Delta State governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has wielded the big stick by suspending the rector, Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Prof Emmanuel Achuenu for six months as earlier directed by the Governing Council of the institution.
This is barely 24 hours after the Delta State House of Assembly (DSHA) called on the governor, who is the visitor to the Polytechnic, to invoke Section 32(1) and (2) of the law establishing the school which empowers the visitor to conduct a visitation.
The governor’s directive was contained in a terse statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Eze Emu, on Friday.
The SSG’s statement stated that the governor, “In his capacity as Visitor to the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, has approved the immediate suspension of the institution’s Rector and Bursar for a period of six months.
“He also upheld the earlier suspension of the Registrar by the Polytechnic’s Governing Council.
The statement explained that the suspension of the Principal officers “is to allow for a thorough and unbiased investigation into allegations of administrative misconduct and financial breaches levelled against them by the Governing Council.”
The statement further directed that the deputy rector “shall act as Rector during the six-month suspension period, while the most senior accountant in the Bursary Department will serve as Acting Bursar for the same duration.”
The governor’s intervention has put paid to the lingering controversy over months of supremacy battle between the School’s Governing Council and the office of the Commissioner for Higher Education.
Before now, the commissioner for Higher Education, Prof Nyerhovwo Tonukari, had in an official letter addressed to the Chairman of the Governing Council, Paul Adingwupu, with reference number MHE/DSPG//Conf/2, dated 7th July 2025 stated that the Council’s action (suspension of the Rector) “exceeds the limits of its disciplinary powers”.
The letter which reads in part stated that “While the Ministry appreciates the Council’s commitment to upholding discipline and accountability in the Polytechnic, it is imperative to underscore that all disciplinary actions especially those affecting Principal Officers must comply with relevant provisions of the law establishing the Polytechnic, as well as the applicable Terms and Conditions of Service.
In all, the commissioner upturned the suspension and directed the council to likewise reverse itself in that direction.
But the Chairman of the Governing Council wrote back, saying, “Council is constrained to note that the Honourable Commissioner is not in a position to counter the suspension of the Rector of Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku by the Council. Such powers to do so resides only with the Executive Governor of Delta State.
“This is more so, as the commissioner is a member of the Council by virtue of the law establishing the polytechnic and sends representative to Council Meetings and Events.
However, DSHA had during its sitting on Thursday admonished the State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof Nyerhovwo Tonukari to always act in strict compliance with the enabling Laws establishing the Polytechnic and other tertiary institutions in the state and steer clear from over-reaching himself in handling of conflicts.
The admonition followed the adoption of a 29-page Comprehensive Report presented by the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee investigating the alleged scandals rocking the Polytechnic.
