There is tension at the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State over the refusal of the Minister of Education Adamu Adamu to appoint a new rector for the institution.

The tenure of the erstwhile rector, Dr. Lateef Olatunji, ended on January 12 and since then Dr. Larongbe Afolabi has been acting, it was gathered.

Afolabi’s acting tenure was supposed to have ended in July, according to the Polytechnic Act 2019 except if renewed for another six months.

It was gathered that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the appointment of Dr. Sarafa Adebayo Raji, who came first in the interview conducted by the institution’s Selection Board.

However, findings showed that Adamu was allegedly planning to tinker with the list.

The board, it was gathered, had recommended three persons to the Governing Council for consideration.

In its recommendation, the board said: “Having carefully conducted the interview and thoroughly guided by the new National Board for Technical Education template on the appointment of rectors

for federal polytechnics, the Selection Board unanimously recommends the under listed candidates in order of merit; Dr. Raji Sarafa A, Dr. Kadiri Kamoru O. and Dr. Akinde Mukali A., as they scored 80.8 per cent; 79.9 per cent and 75.4 per cent.

“The board is of the opinion that the recommendation above, if adopted, will assist the council in taking a well guided position in recommending to the visitor to the polytechnic, President MuhammaduBuhari through the Education Minister for final approval.”

The presidency in its letter directed the minister to appoint the new rector based on merit.

In a letter to the minister dated

March 30, 2022 and obtained by our correspondent, the Chief of Staff to the president, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, approved the appointment of Dr. Raji as the new rector of the institution.

The letter reads: “With reference to your letter DHE/POLYXV/CI/VII?781 dated 1st February, 2022, I write to convey to you Mr. President’s approval for the appointment of Dr Sarafa Adebayo Raji, on merit as

the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State for a single tenure of five years with effect from March 28, 2022.”