Stakeholders at The Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Oyo State, have raised concerns over recent appointments of Registrar and Bursar, questioning whether the selected candidates met the qualifications advertised for the positions.
The management appointed Mrs Dairo Elizabeth of Redeemer's University as Registrar and Mr Oluseyi Afolabi of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology as Bursar in letters dated 13th March 2026.
Sources who spoke on condition of anonymity on Monday noted that both appointees hail from universities rather than polytechnics, suggesting the appointments appeared to have bypassed the requirements earlier advertised for the positions.
One source described the development as having cast a long shadow on the credibility and transparency of the entire selection exercise.
"This appears to be the imposition of influential figures in clear disregard of the laid down procedures, processes and requirements as advertised. Appointing officers who lack sufficient experience within the Polytechnic system may ultimately compromise institutional efficiency and the effective implementation of policies. The documents, including the original advertisement, align with the Federal Polytechnics Act, Cap F17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004," a stakeholder stated.
The polytechnic management had advertised the positions in national newspapers on 15th December 2025, inviting applications for Bursar, Registrar, and other principal officers.
According to the advertisement, the Registrar position requires 18 years post qualification experience for First Degree or Higher National Diploma holders, 15 years for Master's Degree holders, or 12 years for PhD holders, with applicants expected to have served as Deputy Registrar for at least five years in a Polytechnic or TVET institution.
The Bursar role requires similar post qualification experience and at least ten years in a Polytechnic or TVET environment, with candidates required to have held a rank immediately below Bursar, such as Chief Accountant or Deputy Bursar, for no fewer than five years.
Sunday Adepoju, acting Director of the Centre for Information, Communication and Public Relations at the institution, defended the appointment process, stating that the Governing Council was meticulous in conducting the exercise.
"It is the Governing Council that is in charge, and I know that the Council did the needful regarding the appointments. The Council knows what is good for the institution. The Council did the needful by looking at various applications. The Council conducted interviews and computer based examinations and discovered the duo suitable for the jobs," Adepoju noted.
Another source called for urgent review by relevant authorities, emphasising that safeguarding the Polytechnic system itself was more important than just filling positions and that the appointments must reflect the unique structure and mandate of Polytechnics in Nigeria.
