Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has suspended Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Governing Council Chairman, Owo, Mr. Banji Alabi, following the report of the Visiting Panel to the institution.
The governor announced the suspension upon receiving the report from the polytechnic’s seven-member panel on Thursday.
It was collected that Alabi allegedly refused to honor the panel’s invitation on several occasions.
Upon receiving the report at the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure, Akeredolu, who thanked all panel members for their work, promising to review the report, stated: “the president remains suspended until I hear from him.” .
Governor Akeredolu, who raised concerns about what he called the downward trend being seen at the polytechnic, said the report would guide the government on what to do.
He said, “Coincidentally, I am from Owo, I was flooded with various complaints here and there. Some of them I am not able to solve. I asked questions and got answers that were probably not correct, I can’t understand. I received information that several people have been recruited and when I ask, they say no. So why are their salaries going up? Why can’t you pay?
“We have intervened on one or two occasions and gave money with specific instructions to pay salaries. At the end of the day, you still can’t complete your salary payment. I’m sure your report will contain this. Management, yes, there may be some issues with human and material resources, but as I always say when they come to meet me, I know from verifiable facts that the Chancellor has attracted huge funding to that place either through TETFUND or others, because of his Connection. You can’t take that away from him.”
The governor also stated that it had become more desirable to turn the polytechnic into a university, stating that “there is no going back”, noting that the polytechnic had all the necessary facilities to become a university.
Sending the panel’s report to the Governor, the Chairman, Professor Olabode Koriko, applauded Akeredolu for releasing around 1.6 billion Naira to the polytechnic, adding that the Governor’s commitment to repositioning the polytechnic and restoring its lost glory was commendable.
“Rufus Giwa Polytechnic until recently remains a model institution in the Southwest over the years, however, mismanagement of human and material resources seems to have eroded past achievements and turned the citadel of learning that was once famous and has produced very successful results. men and women in society to a shadow of himself.
“Your decision to establish the Visitation Panel at this propitious time therefore could not have come at a better time and is certainly altruistic. It is hoped that, in the end, his desire to place probity and responsibility in the management of this great citadel of learning will come true,” said the gift.
