Rabiu Omaku
The reelected chairman of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia ,Useni Paul has dedicated his landslide victory for his second term in office to the management and Staff of the institution.
In an exclusive interview with selected Journalists, Paul described the election as free, fair and credible election conducted by the Union.
He reeled out some of the nagging hiccups of ASUP, Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia to the non-implementation of promotions.
He called on the state government to have a rethink over the lingering lacuna for the interest of the institution.
“We gave the state government time to revisit the non-implementation of our promotions which he said would lead to the down tool”.
The chairman of the electoral committee Dr. Chiakaam G.J while briefing Journalists shortly at the end of the election declared the incumbent chairman Useni Paul Fatiye reelected with 176 votes.
He declared that the current Vice Chairman, Usman Ibrahim Isa was returned elected with 174 votes.
Other winners are Sale Ose Oyakata won with 177 votes as the Secretary General while the Assistant General Secretary, Emmanuel Peter Zhebago clinch with 117 votes.
Aku Umbugadu Sylvester was elected with total votes of 176; The Financial Secretary Amos Anyesha Audu was elected with 173 votes.
The Internal Auditor, Ayeni Ekundayo won with 95 and the Publicity Secretary, Namo Jeremy clinch his position with 178 votes while the Welfare Officer, Obadiah won with 86 votes and Jibrin Ibrahim Ahmed was elected as ex-officio.
The election was monitored by a representative of council of national officer, Abdullahi Yelwa, Coordinator Zone B.
It could be recalled that a faction of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia has accused the chairman Paul Useni for running the Union as his personal property.
The position was contained in a statement signed by the concerned ASUP members, the members referred to the letter demanding for the removal of member of the Investigative Panel, Dr. Dalhatu Musa Yushau as unconstitutional and destructive activities of the Chairman.
The letter was dated 7th November, 2017 and address to the National President, Academic Staff Union Of Polytechnics, National Secretariat, Abuja and sign by the self-imposed chairman, Yahaya Muhammad and the Secretary, Felix Gonna respectively.
The letter was copy to the Secretary to the State Government, Nasarawa State, Hon. Commissioner Of Education, The Chairman Fact Finding Committee, Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia, The Acting Rector, Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia and ASUP Chairman Nasarawa Polytechnic, Paul Useni.
The letter with heading, “THE ABUSE OF RIGHT OF ASUP CONGRESS MEMBERS IN NASARAWA STATE POLYTECNIC LAFIA” stated that the faction of the Academy Staff Union accused the chairman for taking unilateral decisions that are contrary to the primary objectives of the union to protect and promote the welfare of its members.
The concerned members described the decision of the chairman as a flagrant violation of the mandate given to him by the members.
The group also point accusing fingers on the chairman for advocating for a Rector within the Polytechnic, even when no vacancy exists in the said office, members are worried as to whose script he was acting.
“We wish to observe that the chairman has mortgaged himself to a disagreement with few disgruntled and ambitious Petition writers doing the bidding to the total neglect of the corporate interest of both the much respected union and its Congress.
The members accused the chairman for planting the seeds of discord, calling on the ASUP President to wade into the current rift that is about leading to breakdown of law and order.
Paul Useni was accused by the members for his lousy and uncontrolled divisive remarks which they said have become his stock-in trade.
The concerned group described the signatories of the letter for the removal of Dr. Dalhatu Musa as mischief makers who never find anything good in anybody who does not belong to their group.
In a related development, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, Nasarawa State Polytechnic appealed to the Chief executive to reconsider the appointment of Dr. Dalhatu Musa whom he said was a former desk officer of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) in the Polytechnic before his recent transfer.
It be recalled that the position of chairman, Useni Paul to exclude the former TETFUND desk officer, Dr. Dalhatu was resisted by the Academic Staff Union as ASUP maintained that the inclusion of Dalhatu Musa Yushau would undermine the ongoing investigation with the role he played while in office as TETFUND desk officer.
The factional chairman of the Academic Staff Union, hairman, Yahaya Muhammad and the Secretary, Felix Gonna did not respond to calls by universalreporters247.com as at press time for further explanation.
