Don faults EKSU-ASUU’s claims on tax remittance

By Rasaq Ibrahim, Ado-Ekiti

Vice Chancellor of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) Prof. Edward Olanipekun has warned the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to desist from raising unverified allegations against the institution.

ASUU last week accused the university administration and Governing Council of incompetence. It also alleged fraud.

But Olanipekun described the allegations as puerile, malicious and tissues of lies to achieve some deviously hidden agenda. According to him, the university paid N203, 206,812.62 to the state from the unremitted tax he inherited from Prof. Samuel Bandele.

A statement yesterday by the Director of Information and Head of Corporate Affairs, Bode Olofinmuagun, said COVID-19 caused a shortfall in the institution’s finances which made it unable to meet some of its obligations.

The statement reads: “Prof. Bandele, as Vice Chancellor, did not remit the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) deductions to the Internal Revenue Service during his tenure. However, the present leadership has paid N203,206,812.62 since its inception to date.”

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The VC also faulted claims that the Prof. Tale Omole-led Governing Council lacks the capacity to transform the institution. He insisted that Omole has demonstrated uncommon dexterity in the payment of N1.368 billion of the inherited N1.914 cooperative deductions from the immediate past administration.

“The current Governing Council, inaugurated on January 28, 2019, met N1,914,867,338.00 as accumulated unpaid cooperative money owed members of staff. Within a year, N1,368,008,446.74 was paid as part of the accumulated debts.

“Unlike what it met, this current Council has ensured that salaries are paid as and when due until the advent of the COVID-19 which has negatively affected the university’s finances,” he added.

Olanipekun urged ASUU to support the university administration in its drive to find lasting solutions to the financial crisis rather than worsening the situation through unprovoked attacks.