A fresh wave of controversy has erupted at Auchi Polytechnic as members of staff level serious allegations of abuse of office, injustice and irregular promotion practices against the institution’s management.
Multiple sources within the polytechnic told reporters that the dispute centres on the alleged refusal of the management led by Rector Salisu Shehu Umar to fully implement promotion decisions earlier approved by the institution’s Governing Council chaired by Jonathan Mamu Ayuba.
According to staff members who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Governing Council had approved promotions for qualified personnel across various departments and cadres.
However, insiders claim that the approvals were selectively implemented, with some individuals allegedly promoted based on ethnic considerations or suspected cult affiliations, while others who met the requirements were sidelined.
“The Governing Council approved promotions across board, but what we are seeing is selective implementation. Some people who were not even due for promotion were elevated, while those who qualified were deliberately ignored,” a senior lecturer alleged.
Further details obtained by this online newspaper indicate that the situation has triggered tension within the academic community, with several staff members accusing the management of undermining the authority of the Governing Council.
Sources also alleged that in certain instances individuals who were not included in the council’s approval list reportedly received promotions, raising questions about transparency and adherence to due process.
In another controversial development, staff members cited the case of a lecturer who was allegedly suspended instead of being promoted, with colleagues claiming the decision may be linked to personal issues involving the institution’s leadership.
Additional claims suggest that some staff members have had previously granted promotions reversed, while others were reportedly demoted under circumstances critics describe as unfair and “vendetta-driven.”
One particularly contentious case involves a staff member said to have been demoted without receiving any prior warning letter, with sources claiming the individual was only informed of alleged misconduct before the disciplinary action was carried out.
The mounting grievances have now escalated, with several affected staff members reportedly considering legal action against the management.
Some insiders have described the unfolding situation as “academic banditry,” warning that the integrity of administrative processes within the institution could be severely compromised if the issues remain unresolved.
Efforts to obtain an official response from the polytechnic management were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
Observers say the dispute could pose a significant challenge for the governing council under Professor Ayuba, whose leadership will be crucial in restoring confidence and ensuring adherence to due process within the institution.
Despite the controversy, Auchi Polytechnic remains one of Nigeria’s leading technical institutions, having produced more than 37,000 National Diploma graduates in the last four academic sessions, highlighting its strategic role in the country’s technical and vocational education sector.
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