Nigerian Lecturer Demoted Because He Doesn’t Have Master Degree Suicidal, Renounces Citizenship

Victor Koreyo, Lecturer, Department of Ceramics and Glass Technology, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Afikpo, Ebonyi, has declared intention to renounce his Nigerian citizenship for what he called social injustice.

Koreyo in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, made available to the NAN in Abuja, said he was demoted for a period of eight years by the management of the institution and urged the President to endorse his request.

NAN discovered that a directive was given by the Federal Government in 2007 directing all lecturers to produce additional qualification relevant to the job they do.

It was gathered that the 7th Governing Council of the institution gave Koreyo two years to produce a foreign institution master degree in Ceramic Science and Engineering or he would be dismissed from service.

Koreyo from Nasarawa State, said that the management of the polytechnic refused to communicate the information to him in written.

He alleged that since 2010 till date, the institutions had refused to approve his application for staff development opportunity because the Igbo constituted principal officers in the school.

He also said that several communications to the institution from the Head of Service of the Federation (HOSF), Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Servicom and host of others, on the issue was in his favour for reinstatement.

Koreyo also accused the ministry of Education for allegedly writing a counter-directive letter to the rector to disregard the government directives issued by the HOSF and AGF.

According to him, this is social injustice that is not in line with the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I love to continue as citizen of this great nation on earth.

“But since I do not have the financial power or connection to challenge the Rector to obey the Federal Government’s directives in my favour, I decided to take this peaceful action.

“I believe this peaceful action and step of honour will prevent the rector from killing me by premeditated frustration of my constitutional rights to social justice as the citizen of Nigeria.

“I have nursed this feeling of suicide to end these eight years of frustration by the Rector and officials of the Akani Ibiam Polytechnic division of tertiary education department of the Federal Ministry of Education.

“And have decided the renunciation of my citizenship by birth will be the best way to peacefully end my quest for social justice at the ministry of education and finally resign from Federal Public Service of Nigeria,” he said.

However, a staff of the ministry of education told NAN, on condition of anonymity, said that the ministry was already looking into the matter.

According to him, the matter is also before the newly constituted council of the institution.

He urged Koreyo to be patient as the new council would resolve the problem.

“I just got to know that the new council was already handling the matter and it is a national issue.

“ The Federal Government has constituted a body to look into this problem because it is a general problem and not peculiar to him alone.

“ A directive was given to some staff to go and acquire more knowledge and those that brought their master degrees in relevant disciplines were upgraded.

“But in his own case, where he got his masters is not relevant and is not in line as at that time.

“I want to say that the matter is before the new council so he should exercise patient,” the Ministry source told NAN.