The Senior Staff Union in Colleges of Education, Nigeria (SSUCOEN) has rejected the appointments of the Principal Officers of the six (6) Colleges, who did not meet the requirements for appointments.The association called on the Minister of Education to address the situation, while noting that if the issue is not properly dealt with, the union may be left with no option than to initiate actions, that will challenge the observed infractions, in line with the Conditions of Service for Colleges of Education.The Senior Staff Union in Colleges of Education President, Danladi Ali Msheliza, made the disclosure in a statement. The President of SSUCOEN, said they were disappointed when their attention was drawn to the list of appointments .”Most of the Principal Officers of the six new Federal Colleges of Education at Iwo, Osun State; Gidan Madi, Sokoto State; Odugbo, Benue State; Jama’are, Bauchi State; Isu, Ebonyi State and Ekiadolor, Edo State; who are expected to lay solid foundations of the Colleges; as released by the Federal Ministry of Education (FME), Abuja, did not follow due process”.”We owe it a duty to point out infractions and draw the attention of government and other relevant authorities to ensure that due process are followed and the right things are done while considering such appointments.”He added that upon careful study of the list of the appointees, there are some startling revelations. Some of which are highlighted;
That 90% of those on the list of appointees, do not meet the requirements for appointment as Principal Officers in Colleges of Education, as provided for in the approved Schemes and Conditions of Service (2015 Edition) for Colleges of Education in Nigeria”.”Most of the appointees are either from the Core Civil Service, Private Sector or other sectors outside Colleges of Education System, which is contrary to the provisions for the requirements for the appointment of Principal Officers in Colleges of Education, as contained in the Revised Conditions of Service for Colleges of Education (2015 Edition), and the Act establishing Federal Colleges of Education”.He said the Governing Councils for the new Colleges of Education have been constituted, and they are the ones that have the powers to appoint Principal Officers, as provided for in the Act establishing Federal Colleges of Education and other relevant extant rules and guiding documents.
“We could not help but wonder why the FME rushed to appointPrincipal Officers for the six (6) newly established Federal Colleges of Education, without recourse to the requirements for the appointment of such important positions, especially when Councils were on ground. Had Council not been constituted, it would have been well understood”.He further commended President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Minister of Education, Mal Adamu Adamu, for appointing the Provost, Federal College of Education (Tech), Ekiadolor, Edo State.”The Provost is well experienced in the Colleges of Education subsector, he is indeed, a square peg in a square hole, and will certainly lay a solid foundation, and be a blessing to the new College”.
