By Austin Ogwuda
…as they embark on a 2-week warning strike
THE lingering crisis rocking the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku has taken a new dimension as the Lecturers of the institution appeared to have taken side with the embattled Rector and the suspended Registrar as they unanimously called for the replacement of Paul Adingwupu-led Governing Council.
Rising from a Congress meeting on Tuesday, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, (ASUP) Ogwashi Chapter, in a Communique stated that time has come for the Delta State Government to sack the Polytechnic Governing Council.
The Communique which was read by the Chairman ASUP, Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi Uku, Comrade Dr Michael Ogana, was titled, ‘The lingering Issue of Alleged Result Racketeering That Has Brought Our Institution to Disrepute and Disrupted the Smooth Running of Academic Activities’.
It pointed out that the reputation of the institution, lecturers and her products have been dragged into the mud in the eyes of the public following the sad development.
The Congress has therefore resolved to embark on two weeks warning strike effective from Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
The union demanded immediate recall of the Registrar who was suspended by the Governing Council and payment of all his accrued benefits.
*The Congress in session
They also wondered why the Registrar who was suspended by the Governing Council for six months should now by spending eight months in suspension.
They equally called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the whistle blower (names withheld by The Townhall) for spreading fake news of alleged certificate racketeering.
Recall that the State Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme sometime last month (September) received the Report of the Committee on Investigation of Certificate Racketeering and Suspension of affected Staff of the institution.
That Committee was inaugurated on March 25, 2025.
The Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme while receiving the report said “Your report is very clear and straightforward, especially as it concerns the allegations of certificate racketeering.
“Thank you, we will do an executive summary to His Excellency, the Governor for further actions based on your recommendations”.
Chairman of the Committee, Sir Christopher Osakwe, while presenting the report told the deputy governor and top government functionaries that included the Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Prof. Tonukari Johnbull, who witnessed the occasion, that the report details the findings of the Inter-Ministerial Committee constituted to investigate allegations of certificate racketeering and the subsequent suspension of staff of the polytechnic.
According to him, “The Committee’s investigation focused on three key areas: conducting an in-depth investigation into the certificate racketeering allegations, reviewing the process leading to staff suspension, and making recommendations to ensure institutional integrity and advise on disciplinary actions”.
Also The Guardian Correspondent in Asaba had 21st January 2025, wrote this story about the alleged rot at the Polytechnic.
It reads:
*There is growing concern over the uncovering of an alleged N500 million fraud at Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, in Aniocha South Local Council of Delta State.
The Guardian learnt that the alleged fraudulent activities were exposed by a nine-man audit and verification committee chaired by Chika Ogonwa following a thorough investigation.
After conducting thorough inquiries supported by evidence from staff across various departments, the committee submitted its findings to the chairman of the institution’s governing council, Paul Adingwupu.
Inaugurated by Adingwupu on Monday, August 19, 2024, the committee was tasked with verifying and authenticating the certificates and credentials of staff, assessing their attendance records, and addressing other related concerns.
It was revealed that since October 2024, when the committee submitted its report, there has been a standoff between the governing council and the school’s management.
The Guardian learnt that the committee’s report disclosed significant discrepancies in staff employment records. According to the report, the analysis of the physical verification of staff, as provided by heads of departments and unit heads, revealed that the number of ad hoc staff stood at 357 in July 2023. However, this figure increased to 421 by December 2023, with an additional 64 staff employed. By August 2024, the number had risen to 571, reflecting 214 ad hoc staff employment within a year.
The report also highlighted cases of duplicate payments on the ad hoc payroll. For instance, payroll serial number 433 was used to pay an individual named Obuluku Pennsylvania in April 2024. In May 2024, the same individual received payments twice under serial numbers 433 and 465. Similarly, in May 2024, Olomu Deborah Ujiro was paid twice, using serial numbers 439 and 485. Additionally, Okocha Adanma and Ogundipe Kome, listed as domestic servants and attached to the Registrar and the Bursar, had been on the payroll since April 2024.
It is no longer news that Paul Adingwupu led Governing Council had been having a running battle with the Rector of the institution, Professor Emmanuel Achuenu.
