THE Provost, Federal College of Agriculture Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Dr Babajide Adelekan, has explained why the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, directed the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) to suspend four members of its academic staff indefinitely.
Jokanola Olufemi, Oluade Eyitayo, Awogbade Yemi, and Adekunle Adenike were suspended in a letter dated August 11, 2016, for agitating to become members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).
Adelekan, while addressing reporters in his office, yesterday, noted that the four teachers were also guilty of gross misconduct, recalcitrance, and insubordination.
The provost said the four, and a few others in the college had been disturbing the peace and tranquillity of the college following their desire to join ASUP.
“They have, at various times, demonstrated in the college by chasing staff from offices, students from classrooms, lecturers from lecture rooms, technicians from workshops and workers from the college farms in a bid to force home their demand for becoming recognised members of ASUP.
“The reason why some members of staff in the college are in a desperate bid to become members of the ASUP is just because of the PhD degree issue. In federal colleges of agriculture, the possession of a PhD is a requirement for promotion to certain positions and levels. These members believe that such is not required among the polytechnics. Therefore, they want to join ASUP, which is a staff union of institutions in the Federal Ministry of Education, of which we are not a part”, he said.
Adelekan said:” We received a letter with reference number: ARCN/G/01/S.4/I dated August 13, 2015, and ARCN/A/02/S.2/II/XXX dated May 5, 2015, from ARCN clearly stating that ASUP is not allowed to operate in Federal Colleges of Agriculture nationwide. Before reaching that decision, the ARCN sought input from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity on the issue” he said