By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has issues a 10-day ultimatum tothe management of Federal Polytechnic Idah, Kogi State, to provide detailed documents of ongoing projects in the institution.
Chairman, House Committee on Polytechnics and other Technical Institutions, Rep. Fuad Kayode-Laguda gave the directive when the Rector, Prof Yahaya Usman and other officials appeared before the Committee on Thursday.
The Committee querried the documents presented by the institution’s officials which the lawmakers said was short of what was required by the Committee.
The lawmakers also discovered some infractions on the observance of Federal Character principles in staff composition on the Nominal Role presented to the Committee.
Speaking to journalists after the session, Chairman of the Committee said: “We invited Federal Polytechnic Idah Kogi State and Federal Polytechnic Shendam, Plateau State. But, unfortunately Federal Polytechnic Shendam didn’t come prepared, and we couldn’t host them today.
“But we were able to have a very-very productive interaction with Federal Polytechnic Idah, which they’ve also invited us over to the school to come which ordinarily we would have gone.But, to make things convenient for them we said they should come here. But, they also pleaded with us to come.We had a very-very mutually beneficial discussion.
“Yes, they have not met the standards expected by us in terms of their reportings which we have given them another 10 working days to make available those documents to us.Basically, it’s just explaining their budget line that we asked for. So, it’s not anything out of place”.
Speaking the Federal Character issue, he said they have made their observations and have directed the institution that there was a violation which was need to be addressed urgently.
He added, “Well, after going through their nominal role, we noticed that, a shortfall of indexes of Federal Character. However, they came up with reasons and defence.But, very soon, we are sure there are some employment opportunities that would come up and the corrections will start happening.
The Committee chairman said although some officials of Federal Polytechnic Shendam, Plateau were at the sitting, but the refused to entertain them because the requirement was that, the Rector as the headvof the institution must be before the Committee in person.
He said, “The people that came, the head of the school was not here and he didn’t send in an apology and that’s not satisfactory. So, we told them to please excuse us, till when they have a complete team to meet with us. We will be getting in touch with them by inviting them back.
“We’ve invited them. In North Central we invited four schools.Idah, Kogi State, Shendam Plateau, Bida Minna, the Rector will come back with his team before we go through their reports and of course the one we took now”.
While speaking to journalists, the Rector, Federal Polytechnic Idah, Prof Yahaya Usman Usman said that, they were before the Committee made submissions and the Committee has requested additional documents and further clarifications on some issues which he said would be made available on the appointed date for their next appearance.
He said, “The interaction was very smooth. Of course when you face a Committee like this that is carrying out their statutory function, it is more or less interviews,investigations and all these things. But the… other correspondences that were not contained in our submissions, they’ve given us 10 working days within which we submit, and we’ve obliged”.
Speaking on the oversight visit by the Committee to the institution, he said some issues were raised which necessitaed the suspension of the visit until another time.
He added, “The letter written to us before we started coming, the reason given was based on security, why we have to come. If not, ordinarily, of course they are supposed to be in Idah today.But with the reason given we understand that we have to come back”.
Speaking on the alleged violation of Federal Character, the Rector said, “Yes, we argued this out. Federal Character was implemented. It might not be, the profession, you might not expect the proportions of the State’s populations of staff. The staff are from different populations.
“Oh, yes. Of course Idah is a traditional town, you understand. Most people employed from the far north, from the West will not come. They come, see the place and run away. So, indigines have to fill in these gaps. I think we have explained it”.