By Austin Ogwuda
THE crisis which has been brewing for sometime at the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Nigeria, has come to a boiling point following the suspension slammed on the Rector of the school, Professor Emmanuel Achuenu by Pastor Paul Adingwupu-led Governing Council.
In suspending the Rector, the Governing Council cited alleged financial recklessness and abuse of office while explaining that the action was taken inview of the weighty allegations against him and his flagrant refusal to appear before an Investigating Panel.
However, the embattled Rector outrightly shunned the said suspension and was reported to have stormed the school with some thugs, allegedly sealed the office of the Governing Council members as well as going ahead to issue redeployment letters to staff.
However, while melodrama was playing out the embattled Rector received a delegation of the institution’s Alumni Association on courtesy visit.
Delta State government has since distanced itself from the suspension of the Rector.
It faulted it stating that there was “procedural breach” in the decision by the Governing Council of Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku to suspend the Institution’s Rector, Professor Emmanuel Achuenu and ordered the Council to immediately reinstate him pending full compliance with due process.
The Governing Council of the school chaired by Pastor Paul Adingwupu who had been having a running battle with the Rector met few days ago and unanimously resolved to suspend Prof. Achuenu for an initial period of six months with effect from Friday, July 4, 2025.
The Deputy Rector was directed to assume the role in an acting capacity.
The Governing Council is allegedly accusing the Rector of:
• Unlawful diversion of Polytechnic funds into the personal account of the Registrar for the unauthorized purchase of vehicles for principal officers.
• Unauthorized sale of Polytechnic assets without Council approval, contravening Delta State Government auction laws.
•Illegal withdrawals from the Nigeria Polytechnic Games Association (NIPOGA) account.
• Failure to remove the names of 19 deceased or absconded staff from the state payroll, despite Council directives.
• Employment of 19 permanent staff without Council approval, as well as the unauthorized recruitment of over 214 ad-hoc staff.
• Obstruction of the Council’s statutory meetings and disrespectful conduct, including lateness, talking down on Council members and staging walkouts.
•Refusal to implement Council decisions, including the suspension of the institution’s Registrar and Bursar.
•Unexplained expenditure of N3.92 million purportedly as balance payment for generators that had already been fully paid for in 2023.
•Release of N6 million to a contractor, Chulico Best Ventures, for renovation of the Polytechnic Event Centre, despite no work having commenced.
•Irregular approval of N15 million for solar light repairs, contrary to an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the solar service provider.
But in an official letter addressed to the Chairman of the Governing Council Paul Adingwupu, with reference number MHE/DSPG//Conf/2, dated 7th July 2025, signed by the Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Nyerhovwo Tonukari stated that the Council’s action “exceeds the limits of its disciplinary powers”.
The Commissioner in the letter said “While the Ministry appreciates the Council’s commitment to upholding discipline and accountability in the Polytechnic, it is imperative to underscore that all disciplinary actions especially those affecting Principal Officers must comply with relevant provisions of the Law establishing the Polytechnic, as well as the applicable Terms and Conditions of Service”.
The letter drew the Council’s attention to Part IV, Section 17(1) of the law establishing the Polytechnic, which states: “The Chairman of Council shall, in relation to the Polytechnic, take precedence over all members of the Polytechnic, except the Visitor and the Rector except when acting as Chairman of the Congregation or Convocation, or in the course of performing his academic and executive functions.
“This provision, clearly places the Rector immediately after the Visitor in institutional hierarchy, and therefore not subject to direct disciplinary action by the Council without following proper procedures”, the letter added.
