Zulum suspends Ramat Poly management over ‘infrastructure decay’

Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno state, has suspended the entire management of Ramat Polytechnic in Maiduguri.

The governor paid a surprise visit to the state-owned tertiary institution, which doubles as his alma mater, on Tuesday and expressed his shock to see the present deplorable condition.

Zulum studied at the polytechnic from 1986 to 1988 and bagged National Diploma (ND) in Agricultural Engineering.

He later returned to the polytechnic as a rector from 2011 to 2015.

The governor said he was shocked to see that the institution’s workshops and laboratories were no longer functioning.

It was gathered that most of the labs were out of use and some were infested by cobwebs and rodents due to neglect.

He then suspended the entire management of the polytechnic for a period of six months over dilapidation.

Zulum also directed Babagana Mallumbe, the commissioner of higher education, science, technology, and innovation, to take over the affairs of the polytechnic with immediate effect.

“As far as I am concerned, this Polytechnic is dead. Nothing is working,” he said.

“The workshops are not in existence, the mechanical workshop is not working, the agricultural workshop is not working, likewise, the entrepreneurship centre is not working.

“The School is facing myriads of problems, ranging from lack of funding and commitment.

“As a former student of this polytechnic, a former rector, I have moral stakes in this polytechnic.

“I will not allow this polytechnic to rot during my era as Governor of Borno State. I will do everything possible within my reach to ensure the functionality of this institution.

“The ministry [of higher education, science, technology, and innovation] is to ensure that all the workshops and the labs are put back to use as soon as possible. The entrepreneurship centre should be put back to use as well.

“When I was at the polytechnic as rector, the entrepreneurship centre was producing nothing less than 10,000 to 20,000 school desks and chairs every month. We produced hospital beddings.”

It is understood that the governor held a closed-door meeting with the top management of the polytechnic before his action.

Zulum also assured students at the premises that payment of scholarships will commence soon.

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