The Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Bayelsa State has suspended the Rector, Dr Agbabiaka Lukman and appointed Dr. Timine Suoware in his stead in acting capacity .
The suspension and appointment were contained in a letter dated Oct. 9, signed by Chairman, Governing Council of the Polytechnic, Dr. Baba Ajimi.
Suoware until the appointment, was Deputy Rector in charge of academics at the institution and his appointment is with immediate effect.
“I am directed by the 5th Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Bayelsa State, to convey your appointment as the Acting Rector with immediate effect.
“The appointment is necessitated by the vacuum created due to the suspension of the Rector (Dr. Agbabiaka Lukman Adegoke) by the Governing Council, subject to the approval of the Hon. Minister of Education.
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“As the Acting Rector, you are to perform the functions of the Chief Executive of the Polytechnic, responsible for the general management and operations of the institution, by providing academic leadership to the management and staff and reporting to the Governing Council in line with the provisions of the Polytechnic Act.,” the letter stated in part.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa had waded into the crisis at the polytechnic involving management and workers union over lingering labour dispute that kept the polytechnic shut since July 11.
The minister’s intervention resolved the industrial dispute resulting in the resumption of academic c activities on Oct. 6.
Alausa had at the Sept 28 meeting directed the Governing Council to set up a panel to investigate allegations of misconduct and breach of the Polytechnic Act and report findings within three weeks.
The Governing Council subsequently convened an emergency Council meeting on Oct. 4, where it was resolved to suspend Agbabiaka.
The striking unions had insisted that it is only the removal of the suspended rector that would restore normalcy in the institution.
