‘This Polytechnic Is Dead’ — Borno Gov Suspends Rector, Bursar, Others After ‘Surprise Visit’ To Ramat Poly

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has ordered the immediate suspension of the entire management of Ramat Polytechnic after making a surprise visit to the state-owned tertiary institution on Tuesday.

The polytechnic, which was established as a Government Technical College in 1973, is the governor’s alma mater.

Announcing the management’s suspension in statement posted on his Facebook page, Zulum expressed disappointment at the level of decay at the learning institution.

The governor had served as the polytechnic’s rector from 2011 to 2015, decades after obtaining a National Diploma in Agricultural Engineering from the institution.

He said the polytechnic was as good as “dead”, given the level of disrepair he found at the institution during the visit.

Zulum, who assumed office as Borno governor in 2019, was said to have visited the polytechnic around 9:00am and “found most of the laboratories out of use, with some covered by cobwebs and rodents roaming around due to neglect.”

The learning institution is located in Maiduguri, the state’s capital.

“As far as I am concerned, this Polytechnic is dead. Nothing is working. The workshops are not in existence, the mechanical workshop is not working, the agricultural workshop is not working, likewise the entrepreneurship centre is not working. The School is facing myriads of problems, ranging from lack of funding and commitment,” said Zulum.

“As former student of this polytechnic, a former rector, I have moral stakes in this polytechnic. Insha’Allah, I will not allow this polytechnic to rot during my era as Governor of Borno State. I will do everything possible within my reach to ensure functionality of this institution insha Allah.

“I have directed the Commissioner of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation to take over the affairs for the next six months. The ministry is to ensure that all the Workshops and the laboratories are put back to use as soon as possible. The entrepreneurship centre should immediately be put back to use as well. When I was at the Polytechnic as rector, the entrepreneurship centre was producing nothing less than 10,000 to 20,000 school desks and chairs every month. We produced hospital beddings” he said. 

During the visit, the Governor Zulum directed the state’s ministry of water resources to carry out complete overhaul of the polytechnic’s water channel network.

He also promised to approve the payment of scholarships to students of the institution.

“The verification excerscise have just been completed, I want to assure you that as soon as the detailed report is forwarded to me, we will pay your scholarship immediately” Zulum said.