From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
No fewer than four senior lecturers of the Kogi state Polytechnic, Lokoja were on Tuesday dismissed from service for an alleged acts of Gross Misconduct.
In a press statement by the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Uredo Omale said the misconduct borders on sexual harassment, victimization of female students, abscondment from duties, insubordination, falsification of records, disobedience to lawful order and diversion of TETFUND training grant.
The dismissal according to the release was sequel to the approval by the Governing Council of Kogi State Polytechnic at its 68th meeting.
Some offences of the dismissed lecturers (Mr. Ipinmoroti Samuel Adejoro and Mrs. Adegoke Kehinde Vivian) includes disobedience to lawful order, falsification of document to obtain training grant and diversion of the said training grant to the tune of 22,676,500.00 and 21,204,000.00 respectively.
The Council further directed the Management to use available legal means to also recover from Mr. Ipinmoroti and Mrs. Adegoke the total sum of 22,676,500 and 21,204,000 being the fund they allegedly collected as training grant without undergoing the training at the approved University in Malaysia.
Mrs. Slyvester Ojone Blessing was dismissed for allegedly absconding from duty from 5th January, 2020 to 31st July, 2022 and should refund the sum of 1,356,653.79, being the unearned salaries drawn from the Government within the period of abscondment.
In another development,, the governing council of the Polytechnic has approved the promotion of Eight (8) Principal Lecturers to the rank of Chief Lecturers.
Those promoted are: Dr. Ayodele Shade Oluwakemi -Department of Computer Sciences, Mr. Adalumo Adebola – Department of Fine Arts and Mr. Lawal Fatai Kolade, Department of Statistics.
Others are: Dr. Akande Stephen – Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Attah Yusuf Emmanuel – Department of Business Administration, Mr. Joel Tope Ebenezer- Department of Social Sciences and Humanities,
Mr. James Oricha – Department of Arts and Social Sciences and Mr. Aleshegba Ebenezer -Department of Industrial Design.
The Chairman of the Governing Council lauded the Management of the Polytechnic under, Dr. Salisu Ogbo Usman, for its dedication to service, and called for more positive reforms for sustainable academic development and excellence in the Institution.
The Chairman also congratulated the newly promoted Chief Lecturers and charged them to justify the promotion with more dedication, hard work and excellent research for academic development.
Dr. Usman appreciated the Chairman and Members of the Governing Council for the sustained support and consistent encouragement.
The Rector who congratulated the newly promoted lecturers admonished staff to desist from unethical conduct capable of tarnishing the hard earned reputation of the Polytechnic.
The Rector specifically appreciated His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello the Executive Governor of Kogi State, for providing the enablement for the entrenching reforms by not interfering in the internal administration of the Polytechnic.
