Zamfara federal poly decries staff shortage, seeks recruitment waiver to fill 200 vacancies

The Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda, Zamfara state, says 200 vacancies need to be filled in the institution.

Yahaya Bande, rector of the polytechnic, spoke on Thursday when he appeared before the house of representatives ah hoc committee investigating job racketeering in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

Bande, who is chairman of the committee of rectors, said the polytechnic is affected by banditry activities in the state.

He said polytechnics in the country have their peculiar challenges which should be addressed for optimal performance of the institutions.

“In a situation where staff are exiting or are dead, you are going to be left with a vacuum that would affect the programme and in turn affect the entire nation. Therefore, there might be a need for them (institutions) to recruit,” he said.

“I am the rector of Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda, Zamfara state. It is the hub of insecurity in Nigeria. Between 2015 and today, we have lost over 20 staff to death, kidnapping and retirement.

“With insecurity, students in Zamfara are finding it difficult to attend the school, talkless of other students from across the country. We have nothing less than 200 vacancies.

“We have a machine that is worth N5 billion to N7 billion in our workshop. We have lost almost all the technical persons teaching in the school except for one who is about to retire.”

Bande denied reports that members of the ad hoc investigative panel demanded bribe from the committee of rectors.

“No polytechnic is involved in it. This is even the first time we will be seeing (the) chairman of this committee. I will repeat, under oath,” he said. 

“The committee of federal rectors is not in receipt of any account number or account name from any member of this committee.”

Yusuf Gagdi, chairman of the committee, said he has written to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the bribery allegations.

“I have already written to ICPC to investigate that account that is published by Premium Times, the ownership of that account and whether there is any transaction between polytechnics, vice-chancellors and leaders of any tertiary institutions relating to that account,” he said.