President Bola Tinubu has given his approval for the appointment of Dr Samuel James as the Acting Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa.
This decision, pending the appointment of a substantive Rector, was communicated through a letter dated January 23, 2024.
The letter, signed by Dr A.U. Ejeh, Director of Polytechnic Education and Allied Institutions at the Federal Ministry of Education, was transmitted to Dr. Munir Ahmad, the Registrar of the Polytechnic.
The announcement was made in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State on Friday by Safina Sabo, the Acting Director of Information and Publicity for the institution.
Dr James assumes the role of Acting Rector following the expiration of the tenure of the previous Rector, Dr Abdullahi Alhassan.
According to Sabo, Dr James, who previously served as the Polytechnic’s Deputy Rector, Academics, has been appointed as the acting head until a substantive Rector is appointed.
The Federal Ministry of Education made this decision after Dr. Alhassan’s five-year single tenure elapsed on December 31, 2023.
DAILY POST reported on January 15, that Dr James had initially been appointed as the Overseer of the institution by the Polytechnic’s outgoing Rector, Dr Abdullahi Alhassan Ahmed.
The decision had generated controversy as the appointment is said to be contrary to the stipulations of the Polytechnic Act.
In response to his appointment, the new Acting Rector, Dr Samuel James, expressed gratitude to God and the Federal Ministry of Education for the opportunity to serve in this capacity.
He pledged to work collaboratively with the management and staff of the Polytechnic to achieve important goals and contribute to the institution’s progress.