Isa Ahmad Aliyu
The Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi has approved the immediate dismissal from its services, two lecturers of the institution who were accused of involvement in sexual harassment of two female students.
The affected lecturers are Musa Baba Abubakar of the General Studies Department and Adebusoye Michael Sunday of Nutrition and Dietetics Development who were found culpable by the various investigative committees instituted by the institution since the cases were reported.
Briefing Journalists on Sunday after the regular meeting of the Council held at the Council Conference hall on Sunday presided over by the Chairman, Barr. Isaac Abbot Ogbobula, the Rector, Arc Sunusi Waziri Gumau explained that the Council studied the reports of the various committees before arriving at the final decision on the cases. ”
He said that the delay in arriving at the decision was not deliberate as insinuated by a section of the media saying that, “we don’t have anything to hide, we only followed due process in accordance with the extant laws of the Institution. I wonder what the hue was all about in the media.”
Sunusi Gumau further said that, “We set up various committees as soon as we received the formal complaints from the victims to ensure that justice was done. We have presented our findings to the Governing Council which during its regular meeting, approved the immediate dismissal of the affected staff.””
“He added that, “they will be served with their letters of dismissal by Monday morning, the institution will copy the relevant security agencies and other concerned authorities. With that, the matter has been put to final rest as far as the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi is concerned, they seized to be staff of the institution forthwith.”
The Rector also said that 30 students have been expelled from the Polytechnic for various offences ranging from exams malpractices and falsification of results to gain admission into the various programs of the institution.
On security of staff and students, the Governing Council according to the Rector has approved measures to secure the environment and ensure safety of members of the community saying however that security measures are not discussed publicly.
He also said that in line with the Federal Government policy, the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi is collaborating with private developers in the area of hostel accommodations for the students in order to enhance their safety and security.
Sunusi Gumau then assured that the Polytechnic will continue to do its best to excel both academically and morally warning that no one found wanting will be spared no matter how highly placed.