… As Kogi Polytechnic Lokoja Makes Another History, Holds Maiden Inaugural Lecture 32 Years After Establishment
The Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja has made another history by holding it first Inaugural lecture 31 years after the institution’s establishment.
The maiden Inaugural lecture was titled: Manpower Resourcing and Productivity Management in Public Sector: The Cacophony of Paradox, presented by Dr. Joel Akowe, immediate past dean of the school of Management Studies.
The First Inaugural lecture titled: Manpower Resourcing and Productivity Management in The Public Sector: The Cacophony of Paradox, was delivered by Dr. Joel Akowe, immediate past Dean of the School of Management Studies.
Dr. Joel Akowe in his lecture, declared that the mandate of government at all levels to deliver public goods and services to the citizens, depended on the canons of effectiveness and efficiency.
The Chief Lecturer affirmed that the quality of the workforce is fundamental to the realisation of this goal, noting that the process of acquiring these workers must be objective, fair and transparent.
He warned against the use of public office by the political class and their strategic bureaucrats to satisfy private, political, ethnic or family interests.
He enumerated the consequences of the above in the state’s public service to include employees inflow which he said is usually more than the absorptive capacities of the MDAs.
According to him “Many of those employed have often demonstrated lack of requisite knowledge, skills and attitudes for the job they were employed for; There is usually widespread cases of ‘Protected’ indiscipline as a result of god-fatherism, disloyalty to constituted authorities, increase in training needs and poor servicing of employees’ entitlements resulting to consequent industrial cases amongst others.
As a result of the observed consequences of violation of the resourcing procedures in the Nigerian public service, Dr. Akowe advocated for regular staff auditing in MDAs, due process protocol in declaring vacancies and making their recruitments open while selection of candidates should be strictly based on predetermined criteria.
Also he recommended that orientation agencies, civil societies and NGOs should embark on deliberate education/enlightenment of citizens and other critical stakeholders across the country to awaken their consciousness to demand for fair participation in competitive employment as well as process accountability and transparency of the relevant agencies of employment.
The Rector, Dr. Salisu Usman Ogbo described the feat as yet another significant milestone in the academic development of the Polytechnic since his assumption of office as Rector, of the institution.
Dr. Ogbo described the lecture as the dawn of yet another significant era in the institution as well as another firsts in the area of infrastructural provision, administrative revolution, academic advancement, moral rebirth which his administration is noted for.
The Rector noted that the Polytechnic under his leadership has made several firsts in the area of security architecture amongst others, all geared towards restoring the Polytechnic into institutional preeminence.
The Rector specifically mentioned the successful hosting of the 4th combined convocation ceremonies of the Polytechnic, re accreditation of 30 programs with full accreditation status by the National Board for Technical Education.
Similarly, the Rector mentioned the construction, renovation and rehabilitation of students hostels and perimeter fencing of the female hostels after over 5years of off campus residence
Also mentioned as Achievements by the Rector is the aggressive construction, renovation and rehabilitation of lecture theatres, classroom and office blocks. Remodeling and Reconstruction of old library complex to a 30 bed medical centers a replacement for a 3 bed sick bay his administration inherited.
Aside equipping the Polytechnic library, zero tolerance for unethical practices, introduction of CBT Centre for the conduct of General studies examination for ease of examination administration and for the prompt release of results..
The Rector described the inaugural lecture topic as illuminating pointing out that the successes recorded by his administration is hinged on the application of the merit and federal character principles.
