Just as nothing is expected but back superlative performance, the newly appointed Acting Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja, Dr. Salisu Ogbo Usman has promised to making his tenure a landmark that will be difficult for the people to forget his presence at the institution.

This is as he assures the polytechnic communities of his commitments to run an open-door policy through consultations, dialogue and committee system, saying it will not be business as usual for staff and students.

The Rector disclosed this yesterday in Lokoja in an interview with our correspondent on his roadmap for the development of the polytechnic.

He stated that as part of the effort to correct the rot in the system, he has on assumption inaugurated twenty-two committees with the view to recommend appropriate actions that will reposition the institution.

He decried the deplorable conditions of the polytechnic clinic which has only three beds space to service over twenty-two thousand students and over a thousand staff, assures of upgrading the clinic to 30 beds space that will be stocked with drugs and qualified doctors and other health professionals.

He added that when completed the clinic will be able, not only to service the students and staff but to serve her neighbours thereby generating internal revenue for the polytechnic.

The Rector, promised to complete all the abandoned projects and to bring to book those responsible for the rot even as he said Zenith Bank has agreed to partner with the institution to complete the renovation of the hostel blocks abandoned by the contractor.

Dr Usman, also lamented at the polytechnic in its twenty-Eight years which has no functional legal unit that should have handle barrage of legal suits for the institution said he has created the unit and deployed three lawyers from general studies unit to handle emerging legal challenges facing the institution.

He explained that a new Directorate for Information Technology and Resources Center ( DITRC) has also been established to harness ICT infrastructures that will generate huge revenue for the school adding that he has brought back the JAMB CBT which will also rake in funds for the institution.

While emphasizing the importance of ICT to the effective running of modern institution, has established a platform for the take-off of e-governance that will migrate the school from paper to paperless system for the polytechnic.

The rector noted that in his bid to track leakages, had impressed on the portal service manager who do charge #2500 per student for registration to revert to #1500 the amount that the organisation charges students of the State University Anyigba with less population.

According to him” Within one month of my resumption, I have challenged United Health care Insurance Company to step up her Corporate Social Responsibility ( CSP) to the polytechnic or I will terminate their contract, and they have agreed with our terms. We have equally created Directorate of Advancement, Support and Linkages ( DASL) to collaborate and reach out to Corporate Organisations and Alumni to assist in the development of the institution.

” I assure you that before my 100 days in office, the issue of hostel accommodation will be completed, those responsible for the abandonment of Tetfund projects would be made to accounts for their misdeeds.” He assured.

Usman who described the welfare of staff and students as his main priority said he will construct massive office blocks for the staff, promote conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning, training and retraining and provide needed equipment for staff to perform their duties.

While shedding light on the circumstances for the relief of the former Public Relations Officer Mr. Luke Tijani, said, he took the decision for the unprofessional conduct of the former PRO.

” The PRO of any Organisation is the image of the Organisation to the outside world. The way he dresses, his conduct, how he carries his duties determine how the public views the institution.”

My first contact with him shows that he has little or no knowledge of his office, which shows that he cannot work with the new team who are hurry to deliver the dividend of development to the polytechnic communities.

” In fact, I have to ask the acting Registrar to give me a staff that studied mass communication and I was given Mrs Uredo Omale from the examination office of the Registry, the people here are always people with high integrity. She has first and second degrees in mass communication. I didn’t know her from Adams, but the few weeks at her job, she has performed brilliantly” He said.