A stakeholder of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, RUGIPO, has commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for appointing Dr Olorunwa Sunday Lawson as the institution’s Acting Rector.
In a letter to the governor, he also praised the approval for the replacement of the Acting Bursar, a correction he described as “a step in the right direction toward entrenching equity, accountability, and institutional sanity at RUGIPO.”
According to the letter, which was also copied to the commissioner for Education, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, and all relevant stakeholders:
“I write as a concerned stakeholder of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, to acknowledge and appreciate the recent appointment of *Engr. Dr. Lawson Olorunwa Sunday* as the Acting Rector.
“I commend the Ondo State Government for upholding the rule of law by ensuring the immediate past Rector exited office upon attaining the mandatory retirement age of 65 years, in line with extant regulations governing Nigerian Polytechnics. This decisive action has restored confidence in government’s commitment to due process.
“I equally appreciate the approval for the replacement of the Acting Bursar, who had flagrantly overstayed in office. This correction is a step in the right direction toward entrenching equity, accountability, and institutional sanity at RUGIPO.”
However, he called for compliance with the statutory tenure policy, and replacement of the incumbent Acting Registrar, who has allegedly “flagrantly overstayed in office.”
Noting that equity must be total, the stakeholder alleged that the acting Registrar has been in office for over one year, whereas his appointment should have been renewed after six months for another six months.
Also, he called for the audit of all Heads of Departments and other tenure-bound offices that have allegedly overstayed their statutory limits.
According to the letter, “These positions should be vacated and filled in strict accordance with policy. Allowing a few individuals to perpetually occupy offices meant for rotation breeds stagnation, kills morale, and weakens institutional growth.
“RUGIPO deserves leadership that is bold, just, and committed to reform.
“I am confident that under Engr. Dr. Lawson Olorunwa Sunday, the Polytechnic will experience transparency, discipline, and renewed excellence — but only if full compliance with tenure and rotation policy is enforced without fear or favour.
“The time to act is now. Partial reforms will not suffice.”
However, commenting on the issue in a separate interview, a union leader in the institution told The Radiance: “Whatever happens here is at the prerogative of the governor. This is a state school.”
Also, another union leader said, “We have a new Acting Rector now.”
When contacted, the institution’s former spokesman, now a Justice of Peace, Mr. Samuel O. Ojo, JP, said:
“What I know is that acting capacity is for six months, renewable for another six months, subject to good performance and approval of the Council.”
Also, Ojo advised the Management to effect the institution’s edit, saying the Council should advertise and have substantive persons in positions rather than the prevailing acting appointments for all the institution’s Management positions.
