The Governing Council of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has dismissed two staff members over misconduct and serious disciplinary breaches.
The affected officers are Mr Mukhtar Muhammed, an Administrative Officer II, who was terminated for sexual molestation, and Mrs Funmilayo Afolabi, an Assistant Chief Executive Officer, who was dismissed after absconding from duty for nine months.
The decisions were taken at the 72nd regular meeting of the Governing Council held on Friday at the polytechnic’s council chamber. The meeting was chaired by the council chairman, Sani Shaibu.
In a related decision, the council approved the demotion of Mr Audu Mathew, a Deputy Registrar, to the rank of Principal Assistant Registrar for negligence of duty.
While enforcing discipline, the council also approved the promotion of 572 teaching and non-teaching staff. This includes 11 principal lecturers elevated to the rank of chief lecturers.
For the 2024 promotion exercise, 49 academic staff and 71 non-teaching staff were successful. Another 225 academic and 227 non-teaching staff were cleared for promotion in the 2025 cycle.
Shaibu praised the polytechnic’s management for upholding discipline, transparency, and academic integrity, stressing that the council would not tolerate any action capable of damaging the institution’s image. He urged staff to adhere strictly to rules and professional ethics.
In his remarks, the Rector, Prof Salisu Usman, thanked council members for their continued support, noting recent achievements such as the timely release of students’ results, improved campus security, payment of Earned Academic Allowances to affected schools, and the provision of a new borehole to boost water supply.
Usman also disclosed the uncovering of a result forgery syndicate involving one Mr Henry Tope, who was found with 30 forged statements of results and an original certificate bearing the institution’s insignia.
He further announced the appointment of Mrs Glory Ojochogwu Yakubu, a Deputy Registrar, as the substantive Registrar of Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, and commended Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, for creating an enabling environment for academic and infrastructural growth.
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