Lafia
The Advocate Group for Social Justice has called on the Nasarawa State Government to immediately confirm the appointment of Dr. Nurudeen Mua’azu Maifata as the substantive Rector of the Isa Mustapha Agwai I Polytechnic (IMAP), Lafia.
The group made its position known during a press conference held in Lafia, where it decried what it described as the “prolonged and suspicious delay” in the official announcement of Dr. Maifata’s appointment, despite his reported emergence as the most qualified candidate following a transparent selection process conducted by the institution’s Governing Council.
Speaking on behalf of the group, its spokesperson, Mr. Esla Emmanuel, said:
“Dr. Maifata distinguished himself in the interview process and was widely acknowledged as the leading candidate.
The delay in confirming his appointment raises serious concerns of undue interference by certain individuals who may be pushing a different agenda.”
The group noted that the polytechnic, which has undergone significant transformation in recent years, requires decisive and visionary leadership to consolidate its gains and chart a path for sustainable growth.
“We urge His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Sule, to safeguard the integrity of this process by approving the Governing Council’s recommendation without further delay,” Mr. Emmanuel added.
In a related reaction, a senior academic staff member who pleaded anonymity said:
“The academic and non-academic staff of IMAP are watching developments closely. The right thing must be done, and we expect the state government to avoid setting a dangerous precedent by politicizing this critical appointment.”
The government must do the needful and let IMAP move forward.”
The Advocate Group for Social Justice, known for championing accountability and transparency, concluded its briefing by warning that any attempt to subvert the process or manipulate the outcome would be strongly resisted by civil society, students, and education advocates across the state.
“This is not just about one man; it is about protecting the sanctity of our public institutions,” the group maintained.
