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ASUP calls on Alia to bring back fired Benue Poly director

Governor Hyacinth Alia has received an appeal from the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Benue State Polytechnic (USP), Ugbokolo Chapter, and the Concerned Idoma Senior Staff Association of the institution, requesting that Dr. Nathaniel Oche’s recent removal as the polytechnic’s rector be reversed.

The governor recently fired Oche, who had been the institution’s rector for five years after his appointment in May.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday in Makurdi following the congress, Comrade David Owuna, the Chairman of the ASUP Benue Polytechnic chapter, recounted how, prior to the appointment of Oche, the first rector from the host community, the institution was operated in an acting capacity for eighteen months, in violation of the law.

The union contended that Oche had performed remarkably well in the little time he had been in charge of the organization, had made wise choices and suitable appointments that had improved workplace peace, and for these reasons, the union was resolved to demand that his dismissal be reversed.

The union stated that “Dr. Oche has succeeded in bringing about relative peace both within and outside the campus in his brief time in office as the Rector of the Polytechnic.” Additionally, he has appointed personnel with a great deal of latitude, something the polytechnic has not done in about 20 years.

“His appointment as rector has significantly improved the school staff’s ability to work together harmoniously; as a result, a new phase of relative developments is gradually becoming entrenched in the polytechnic. It is only now that we have learned of his removal from office due to a visitation panel report that is deemed to be untrue.”

The union also voiced surprise at the Commissioner of Education’s decision to reverse the appointments of the Rector’s deputy rectors, administrators, and academics, as well as other appointments that were previously rejected by the polytechnic for unknown reasons.

Thus, this is the main issue, and members find it completely intolerable.

“The union hereby appeals to the Governor and the Visitor to the Polytechnic to kindly re-consider his decision concerning the removal of Dr. Nathaniel Oche as the Rector of Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, for industrial harmony and peaceful coexistence, given the above and the fact that if there was any misdeeds by the Rector, he has not been given any fair hearing.”

Additionally, Jude Eza, the chairman of the institution’s Concerned Idoma Senior Staff Association, pointed out during the briefing that although the Rector’s appointment was terminated legally, due process was not followed because he was not given a fair hearing in accordance with part X I, section 45 of the Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo Law Cap 160 of Benue state 2004.

 

According to him, the visitation panel was established by the State Government to examine Polytechnic matters between 2016 and 2023, a span of only three months for the Rector to hold office.

Comrade Eza asked when the white paper and panel report were produced in order to support the recommendation to remove the rector from his position.

 

He made a plea to the Polytechnic’s governor and guest to graciously revoke the rector’s appointment termination in order to maintain the institution’s uninterrupted smooth operation.