The Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe in Bayelsa State has suspended the Rector, Dr Agbabiaka Lukman, and appointed Dr. Timine Suoware as Acting Rector.
The suspension and appointment were contained in an October 9 letter, signed by Chairman, Governing Council of the Polytechnic, Dr. Baba Ajimi.
Suoware until his appointment was Deputy Rector in charge of academics at the.
According to the letter, the appointment takes immediate effect.
The Governor Council wrote in the letter that “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, staff and students.”
It will be recalled that the current development follows a mediatory meeting of the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa with 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 activities on October 6.
Alausa had at the September 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 October 4, where it was resolved to suspend Agbabiaka.
