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By Pita Chib, Minna

Confusion ensued in Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State on Monday when staff protested against the appointment of the Rector, Dr Abubakar Dzukogi, as a Sole Administrator of the institution.

The Rector who is supposed to retire on  February, 15 2021 have received a letter from the Federal Ministry of Education, saying that he can retire on the said date and continue his tenure as Rector after retirement.

It would be recalled that the Rector was re-appointed in a letter with reference number, HME/FME/VOL.1/221 dated 4th March 2019 signed by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu with a third paragraph saying that the appointment will terminate on the 15th Febuary 2021 after he attains the mandatory retirement age of 65 years in line with the condition of service in the polytechnic sector.

A new letter from the Ministry of Education has emerged signed by the Director, Tertiary Education, Ojo Joel Samuel, with reference number, DHE/POLY.V/C.II/T2/19 dated 9th June, 2020.

The letter made available to www.theledgerng.com  stated that the Rector can continue to run the second term in office after he retires in February 2021.

The letter read, "RE - APPOINTMENT OF DR. ABUBAKAR ABDUL DZUKOGI AS RECTOR FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC BIDA, NIGER STATE

"I write with reference to the earlier letter Ref. No. HME/FME/VOL.I/221 dated
4th March, 2019 on the above subject which notified you of your re-appointment as the Rector for a second and final tenure of four years with effect from 21st May, 2019, and also informing you that the appointment terminates on 21st February, 2021 when you attain the mandatory retirement age of sixty five (65) years in line with the condition of service in the Polytechnic sector.

"However, in line with the extant provisions, I am directed to convey the approval of the Honourable Minister of Education for you to serve out your second and final term in office which terminates on 20 May, 2023. However, you are required to retire from the service with immediate effect as a staff of the institution and continue to run
the second term. Failure to do so would mean that you would vacate office on attaining the mandatory retirement age of 65 on 15th February, 2021."

"This approval supersedes the letter of 4th March, 2019.

"Please, accept the assurances of the high regards of the Honourable Minister."

However, our correspondent gathered that this letter is contrary to the Federal Polytechnics amended Act 2019 which states in section 16(4) that there shall be no sole administration in any polytechnic in Nigeria.

Also section 14 (4) reads that, "Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Pensions Reform Act, the compulsory retirement age of staff of Polytechnic shall be 65 years."

Staff of the Federal Polytechnic Bida are raising eyebrows over the letter elongating the stay of the Rector as the ask if there is no qualified or suitable candidate for the position of Rector out of about 200 Chief Lecturers in the Polytechnic.

The Public Relations Officer of the Polytechnic, Husseni Muhammad Enagi, confirmed that the institution is in receipt of the letter and aware that the Rector is staying on after his retirement