By Austin Ogwuda
… Barely 24 hours Delta Assembly called on him to invoke Section 32(1) and (2) of the Law establishing the School which empowers the Visitor to conduct a visitation
AT last, the Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, who is the Visitor to the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi Uku has wielded the big stick by ordering the Rector, Prof Emmanuel Achuenu to proceed on six months suspension immediately as earlier directed by the Governing Council.
The governor’s directive was contained in a terse statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Eze Emu, today (Friday).
The governor’s action came barely 24 hours after the Delta State House of Assembly called on him “to invoke Section 32(1) and (2) of the law establishing the institution, which empowers the Visitor to conduct a visitation or direct such a visitation into the affairs of the Polytechnic”.
The SSG’s statement stated that the governor “In his capacity as Visitor to the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, has approved the immediate suspension of the institution’s Rector and Bursar for a period of six months.
*The embattled Rector: suspension confirmed, at last
“He also upheld the earlier suspension of the Registrar by the Polytechnic’s Governing Council.
The statement explained that the suspension of the Principal officers “is to allow for a thorough and unbiased investigation into allegations of administrative misconduct and financial breaches levelled against them by the Governing Council”.
The statement further directed that the Deputy Rector “shall act as Rector during the six-month suspension period, while the most senior accountant in the Bursary Department will serve as Acting Bursar for the same duration”.
The governor’s intervention has put paid to the lingering controversy over months of supremacy battle between the School’s Governing Council and the office of the Commissioner for Higher Education.
The tug of war:
Education Commissioner nullifies the suspension order
The Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Nyerhovwo Tonukari, had 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 stated that the Council’s action (suspension of the Rector) “exceeds the limits of its disciplinary powers”.
The letter which reads in part stated that “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 Council’s attention is drawn 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.
“To definitively address what it called the “illegal action” of the Adingwupu-led Council, the letter further invoked Part VII, Section 34 (1 & 2) of the establishing law, which provides that:
“If it appears to Council that a member of Council should be removed on grounds of misconduct or inability to perform his functions, the Council shall make a recommendation through the Commissioner to the Visitor”.
In all, the Commissioner upturned the suspension and directed the Council to likewise reverse itself in that direction.
Paul Adingwupu-led Governing Council rebuffed the Commissioner
The Chairman of the Governing Council wrote back, saying, “Council is constrained to note that the Honourable Commissioner is not in a position to counter the suspension of the Rector of Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku by the Council. Such powers to do so resides only with the Executive Governor of Delta State.
“This is more so, as the Honourable Commissioner is a member of the Council by virtue of the law establishing the polytechnic and sends representative to Council Meetings and Events.
“In the light of the foregoing and in the absence of infringement of any law on the part of the Council, I hereby respectfully, inform you that Council is unable to accede to your directives as contained in the letter under reference. Accordingly, the Rector of Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku remains suspended in line with Council resolution”.
Delta Assembly’s intervention
Delta State House of Assembly had during its sitting on Thursday admonished the State Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Nyerhovwo Tonukari to always act in strict compliance with the enabling Laws establishing the Polytechnic and other Tertiary institutions in the State and steer clear from over-reaching himself in handling of conflicts.
The admonition followed the adoption of a 29-page Comprehensive Report presented by the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee investigating the alleged scandals rocking the Polytechnic.
