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Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has defended the recent sack of the former Vice Chancellor of the state university, Professor Bernard Matau, the former rector of the state polytechnic, and other heads of state-owned institutions, recently relieved of their positions, noting it was to save the institutions from imminent collapse.

Reacting to agitations by Joint Union of Plateau State-Owned Tertiary Institutions (JUPTI), the Director of Press and Public Affairs (DOPPA) to the Governor, Mr. Gyang Bere said, “The action of government was to revamp the education sector and save it from collapse.

“For instance, we have a situation where the heads of the institutions are unable to give a clear account of the revenue generated by the institutions. So, government action is to see that such are investigated to ensure that the right is done.

“On the cancellation of the employment done by the previous government in October 2022, it was pathetic that people with SSCE were employed in the status of a lecturer. What do such persons have to offer to the system? That, in itself, is like killing the sector. So, government’s action is in the interest of the Plateau State.

“We are therefore appealing to everyone whose appointment was affected by the cancellation, as there will be a review of the exercise to ensure that those who are qualified for their positions will be given their employment.”

JUPTI has addressed the press expressing dissatisfaction over the manner the heads of the tertiary institutions were removed and replaced without due regard to the edicts and laws establishing the institutions, warning on the danger and negative precedents the action of the government will create in the future.

Chairman of JUPTI Comrade Peter Longbaam said, “Their appointments were in accordance with the Edicts and Laws that established these institutions. We wonder which criteria were used to remove the Heads of the tertiary institutions.

“The removal of these officers was not in line with the extant laws governing the institutions. With this development, the union is shocked, especially knowing that, not long after, our dear government is a beneficiary of law and justice. 

“We are afraid, these acts might be counterproductive with gross and unimaginable consequences in the accreditation of our academic programs.”