Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has approved the immediate six-month suspension of the Rector, Professor Emmanuel Achuenu, and the Bursar of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, following allegations of financial recklessness, misappropriation of funds, and gross administrative misconduct. This decision aligns with an earlier suspension of the institution's Registrar, upheld by the Governor acting as the Visitor to the Polytechnic, and comes after an investigative report by the Polytechnic’s Governing Council and a parliamentary investigative committee of the Delta State House of Assembly uncovered multiple instances of unauthorized expenditures and administrative lapses.
The suspension is intended to allow for a thorough and unbiased investigation into the allegations against the principal officers. During this period, the Deputy Rector will act as Rector, while the most senior accountant in the Bursary Department will temporarily assume the role of Acting Bursar. The Delta State Ministry of Higher Education has been directed to oversee the institution's affairs to ensure transparency, stability, and adherence to due process.
The Governor’s spokesman emphasized the administration’s commitment to rooting out corruption and promoting accountability in public institutions. Governor Oborevwori's whistle-blowing policy, praised for enhancing transparency and project quality through citizen participation, is integral to this governance approach. The policy empowers the public to report irregularities, which has increased compliance among contractors and public officials. It aims to safeguard public funds and ensure value-for-money governance for the benefit of Delta State residents.
This action sends a clear message that financial impropriety and administrative negligence in educational institutions will not be tolerated. It is part of Governor Oborevwori’s broader vision to uphold integrity, efficient governance, and sustainable development in Delta State’s public sector.