Borno state Governor Babagana Zulum has suspended the entire management of Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri for a period of six months.
During a surprise visit to the state owned institution on Tuesday morning, the Governor realised that most of the laboratories are out of use, with some covered by cobwebs and rodents due to neglect.
Professor Zulum who was a former Rector and student of the Polytechnic assessed all infrastructures and learning conditions, and thereafter, directed the Commissioner for Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Babagana Mallumbe to take over the affairs of the School immediately.
“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, the Governor observed “
He promised to do his best to ensure the functionality of the institution.
“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” Zulum said.
Professor Zulum thereafter held a closed door meeting with top management of the Polytechnic and directed the ministry of water resources to drill two deep aquifers borehole and carry out a complete water channel network within the polytechnic.
Meanwhile, Governor Zulum, while addressing thousands of students at the premises of the polytechnic assured to commence payment of scholarships soon.
Zulum was a student of the Polytechnic from 1986 to 1988 and bagged National Diploma in Agricultural Engineering before returning to the Polytechnic as rector from 2011 to 2015.
Dauda Iliya