Group, under the aegis of Equity and Justice (EJ), and the authorities of Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, have disputed over employment of staff.
The group in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin City on Monday, said the recruitment of 250 staff by the Rector of the institution was at variance with the enabling laws as regards recruitment into the federal public service.
The statement signed by Izuagie John, director of publicity of the group, however, called on the Federal Government to sanction the Rector of the school, Sanusi Jimoh, for employing 250 staff without following due process.
John said the Federal Government’s employment enabling law stated that all vacancies should be advertised in at least two newspapers circulating nationally, giving prospective candidates a minimum of six weeks within which to apply.
The Rector had at the March 30, 2019, convocation of the institution said a total of 250 staff had so far been employed to strengthen the staff capacity of the institution to deliver efficiently on its academic and support services.
The Rector also said the staff were employed as part of practical steps towards solving the acute manpower shortage besetting the school.
According to Rector, the staff have settled into their duties and early indications show that they will be a great asset to this institution.
In the statement, the group described as “more worrisome” when the Rector allegedly employed his son and placed him above his qualification and competence.
“The Rector employed about 12 members of his immediate family as staff of the institution because of that we have reasons to fault the appropriateness or otherwise of the recruitment without strict adherence to the process and staff Audit to ascertain the exact numbers, competence and qualities of those said to have been employed by him,” the group said.
The group, however, urged the appropriate ministry to investigate the employment scan and apply necessary sanctions where it is established that the Rector had over stepped his bounds.
Reacting, the institution’s public relations officer, Mustapha Oshiobugie, said the school followed due process to recruit its staff, saying all those that were appointed or employed were qualified, duly interviewed, everything followed the due process.
“The polytechnic duly employed 250 staff to fill the existing vacancies in the institution. All due processes were followed,” he said.
On the issue of employing 12 of his family members, the PRO said, “If anybody family member is qualified, does that mean that such person will not be employed? If the Rector has a son who wants to attend the polytechnic and he is qualified for the department he wants to go, is it because his father is a Rector he will not be taken or get a qualified job?”
