Alumni body of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) Oto/Ijanikin, will today hold its dinner/homecoming at the Banquet Event Centre, Lateef Jakande Road Agidingbi, Lagos.
The dinner, first of its kind in the association’s history, is to reunite old alumni, have fun and seek ways to further enhance the development of the 57 year-old institution.
The event will also feature presentation of awards to distinguished alumni who are making giant strides in their various chosen fields. It will also award those that have contributed to the development of the college and assisted members in one way or the other.
In a chat with The Nation, the association’s national president, Comrade Adeyemi Adesanya, revealed the inspiration behind the event.
He said: “We discovered that the college is very old, about 57 years, while the alumni organisation is about 30 years. So, we felt there was need to call our old graduates all over the world for a reunion. We want to use this opportunity to appreciate ourselves, the college and Lagos State.”
Adesanya recalled that when his executive committee came on board in November 2012, the first task before it was to have a database of all past graduates of the oldest institution in the state.
Adesanya confessed that the journey has not been smooth, nonetheless, he was happy that the alumni building has been completed
“When we came on board, we started putting together a database of all our students. Today, I’m happy to tell you that there is no graduate whose particulars are not with us, whether such one has collected his or her certificates or not.
“I recall the first national executive meeting we had, I told my executive members that whoever was not ready to contribute meaningfully would not be accommodated. Today, I’m quite grateful to them because they all worked with me wholeheartedly.”
He continued: “The first challenge was how to have our alumni building because we did not have any place to stay and there was no money. So, we taxed ourselves. We also reached out to some distinguished Lagosians and alumni with which we raised some funds to lay the foundation.”
According to Adesanya, the choice of where to site the building as well as conforming to professional standard, were another set of headaches the alumni body had to tackle.
“The foundation alone cost us a lot of money. Initially, we were looking at it like the normal way we cut cost when building our own houses; but when the supervising engineers came, look at the drawing and discovered it would be a storey building, their recommendations were too professional from foundation up, which made the cost of the building expensive. We did not have a choice than to comply. Today we are grateful because the building is ready,” he said.
Adesanya thanked Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as well as the state SUBEB for providing employment opportunities to a large number of AOCOED graduates during its last recruitment exercise.
According to him, Ambode would be the chairman of the day, while former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be the special guest of honour. An alumnus and Provost of Micheal Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED) Prof Olu Akeusola will deliver the keynorte address.
In this interview with ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA, Prof Tunde Samuel defends the council’s sack of the principal officers. The council, he says, has enough evidence. The aggrieved to go to court, he insists.
Initially, the governing council had accused top principals of the immediate past administration of mismanaging funds to the tune of N1.5 billion. After concluding investigation, council only asked some senior staff and principal officers to refund N11 million. Why the sharp contrast?
There are about five aspects of corruption and misappropriation of fund. The one you carried (the N1.5 billion scandal The Nation reported in April) was N1.5 billion government money squandered by previous management. This N1.5 billion included tax deductions, pension and cooperative funds, which have already been deducted from staff salaries, and management dipped its hand into this money and squandered it. They (principal officers) told us (during investigation) that they used it to pay salaries. The governing council is still begging Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to repay the N1.5 billion because when workers retire, they must collect pension. Cooperative Society money too must be put back.
Another aspect is the mismanaged N30 million; it represented money collected by certain staff in the guise of going for conferences but they did not go. They were invited by the disciplinary committee and all of them owned up. We asked them to produce evidence, those who did were freed.
Some of the sacked workers are saying they are being witchhunted because there are others with grievous crimes who were given light sentences
Like who?
Like the one who was alleged to have committed rape and the other plagiarism
In law, there is a difference between intent to commit an offence and an offence already committed. Before somebody can be dismissed, he must have been seen to have committed the offence levelled against him.The (rape) matter was investigated by the council’s disciplinary Committee and they brought their recommendations. The officer in charge was accused of wanting to rape somebody, but rape was not committed. As the chairman of council, I cannot singlehandedly take a position. The rape allegation was exhaustively deliberated upon by members on the floor of the council. The government representative was also in the council and the majority supported demotion. In fact, all the cases were handled by the sixth council. Investigation had been conducted and decision taken by the previous council. So, our council simply implemented what we met on ground.
But some of these sacked principal officers are insisting the Council was not transparent in its investigation?
I disagree on that. I have told whoever feels aggrieved to go to court. When we came in last year (October), we did not act immediately. We calmed down first to conduct thorough investigation. It took us about three months to assemble our barrage of evidence.That place (AOCOED) is more than rotten. How can management of the college claim to have awarded contracts worth N500 million and NI billion without council’s or the government’s approval? The (former) provost knows that his approval limit is N1million while management is N5 million. Haba. As soon as the (previous) council was dissolved, they were just awarding contracts. I produced all the evidence before the governor. You need to lay your hand on the report of the forensic audit carried out by LASU for us. At my level, I cannot be thinking irrationally. When we first invited them, all of them walked out on the council. It was when they discovered that the council was not ready to compromise that they came back and were confronted them with evidence.
Some also argued that the Council invited LASU to conduct forensic audit on AOCOED as part of te witchhunt, claiming that this is an aberration in the civil service.
When the matter came up at the council, it was the representative of the government in council that suggested that to minimise the cost of investigation, council should allow her to seek audience with LASU (Lagos State University) vice chancellor. Right there, he called the VC and said our council would require the assistance of the varsity’s Directorate of Audit to conduct a forensic audit in AOCOED. The four people sent in by LASU were brought by the university’s Director of Audit.
When they started work, they requested from the principal officers evidence of all contracts awarded but it will shock you that there was no record of it in the Registry. No letter of award as well as vouchers and payment receipts. They have destroyed the evidence.
In this interview with ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA, Prof Tunde Samuel defends the council’s sack of the principal officers. The council, he says, has enough evidence. The aggrieved to go to court, he insists.
Initially, the governing council had accused top principals of the immediate past administration of mismanaging funds to the tune of N1.5 billion. After concluding investigation, council only asked some senior staff and principal officers to refund N11 million. Why the sharp contrast?
There are about five aspects of corruption and misappropriation of fund. The one you carried (the N1.5 billion scandal The Nation reported in April) was N1.5 billion government money squandered by previous management. This N1.5 billion included tax deductions, pension and cooperative funds, which have already been deducted from staff salaries, and management dipped its hand into this money and squandered it. They (principal officers) told us (during investigation) that they used it to pay salaries. The governing council is still begging Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to repay the N1.5 billion because when workers retire, they must collect pension. Cooperative Society money too must be put back.
Another aspect is the mismanaged N30 million; it represented money collected by certain staff in the guise of going for conferences but they did not go. They were invited by the disciplinary committee and all of them owned up. We asked them to produce evidence, those who did were freed.
Some of the sacked workers are saying they are being witchhunted because there are others with grievous crimes who were given light sentences
Like who?
Like the one who was alleged to have committed rape and the other plagiarism
In law, there is a difference between intent to commit an offence and an offence already committed. Before somebody can be dismissed, he must have been seen to have committed the offence levelled against him.The (rape) matter was investigated by the council’s disciplinary Committee and they brought their recommendations. The officer in charge was accused of wanting to rape somebody, but rape was not committed. As the chairman of council, I cannot singlehandedly take a position. The rape allegation was exhaustively deliberated upon by members on the floor of the council. The government representative was also in the council and the majority supported demotion. In fact, all the cases were handled by the sixth council. Investigation had been conducted and decision taken by the previous council. So, our council simply implemented what we met on ground.
But some of these sacked principal officers are insisting the Council was not transparent in its investigation?
I disagree on that. I have told whoever feels aggrieved to go to court. When we came in last year (October), we did not act immediately. We calmed down first to conduct thorough investigation. It took us about three months to assemble our barrage of evidence.That place (AOCOED) is more than rotten. How can management of the college claim to have awarded contracts worth N500 million and NI billion without council’s or the government’s approval? The (former) provost knows that his approval limit is N1million while management is N5 million. Haba. As soon as the (previous) council was dissolved, they were just awarding contracts. I produced all the evidence before the governor. You need to lay your hand on the report of the forensic audit carried out by LASU for us. At my level, I cannot be thinking irrationally. When we first invited them, all of them walked out on the council. It was when they discovered that the council was not ready to compromise that they came back and were confronted them with evidence.
Some also argued that the Council invited LASU to conduct forensic audit on AOCOED as part of te witchhunt, claiming that this is an aberration in the civil service.
When the matter came up at the council, it was the representative of the government in council that suggested that to minimise the cost of investigation, council should allow her to seek audience with LASU (Lagos State University) vice chancellor. Right there, he called the VC and said our council would require the assistance of the varsity’s Directorate of Audit to conduct a forensic audit in AOCOED. The four people sent in by LASU were brought by the university’s Director of Audit.
When they started work, they requested from the principal officers evidence of all contracts awarded but it will shock you that there was no record of it in the Registry. No letter of award as well as vouchers and payment receipts. They have destroyed the evidence.
A sacked member of staff of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) Ijanikin, Arinle Ahmed Adekunle, has appealed to Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, to direct his reinstatement because the process leading to his termination was flawed.
Arinle said he was investigated by a ‘special ad-hoc committee of council on staff matters’ whose duty was to probe top principal officers and not a level 6 officer like him.
Arinle’s plea was contained in a petition dated August 19, 2016, addressed to the Lagos State government and the Head of Service.
He alleged that he was sacked by the Governing Council, which investigated him and other principal officers on allegation of corruption to the tune of N1.5 billion, but nothing was found to nail him.
According to him, his offence as contained in his letter of termination dated August 3, 2016, was that he was a shareholder in a company called Rinllanded Nigeria Limited.
Providing documents to back up his claim, Arinle noted that no civil service rule in Lagos State prohibited workers from doing so.
“Now if I have contravened any of these rules, which I have not in any way; where in the Edict of the college suggested termination? Where in the condition of service or the Lagos State public service rules for public and civil servants suggest the termination of my appointment? Isn’t something fishy here?” the petitioner queried.
He said the same council also investigated and found some other workers guilty of rape, plagiarism, corruption among others, but gave them light sentences because they were “sacred cows”.
He lamented that given the caliber of members of the Council chaired by Prof Tunde Samuel, they should know that offences such as plagiarism and rape were deserving of greater punishment than demotion.
He accused the Council of giving soft landing to a deputy registrar who collected money in two other institutions while on sabbatical.
Responding to the allegations, Prof Samuel, said Arinle’s claims were frivolous.
He described Arinle as the ‘conduit pipe’ through which the top principal officers that served in the last administration “siphoned money meant for the institution.”
“He (Arinle) was behind the establishment of a company producing water and ID cards used as conduit pipe by (former) management to siphon money. He was making money from producing water, ID cards and at the same time earning salary as a staff.”
On those that were pardoned, Samuel said the Council, which came on board about a year ago, simply acted on the recommendation of the previous Council.
“It is true that we recommended demotion to some of these people. Let me tell you that some of these allegations were before we came on board. We at Council, exhaustively reviewed and deliberated over the matter and we felt we should just uphold the recommendation of the previous Council,” he said.
Further, he said he would be willing to welcome Arinle or aggrieved individuals in court, adding that the Council has more than enough evidence on the financial atrocities by the perpetrators.
“When we came on board, we did not rush, but conducted thorough investigation. That place (AOCOED) was rotten! How can management choose to have awarded contract worth N500 million when its approval limit was five and thebProvost N1 millon?” Samuel asked.
Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education Alumni Association has made a request to the management to train security guards in the college on ethical conduct.
The group made the request when it visited the Provost, Dr Omolola Aina Ladele, last Tuesday.
The national president, Adeyemi Adesanya visited with the vice president, Adedunni Funmilayo, general secretary, Wale Okugbesan, and PRO, Johnson Olufemi. They were received by Dr Ladele, the deputy provost, Mr Wole Ajose, Ag. Registrar Shehu Muhideen and PRO, Adebowale Odunayo.
The meeting provided a forum for Dr Ladele, who was appointed in February as the first woman Provost of the nearly 60 year-old institution, to interact with the alumni on the college’s development.
Leading the talk, Adesanya said the alumni has organised many programmes, including seminars for SUG Executives. He added that the alumni secretariat, begun about three years ago, is now expected to be completed before the year runs out.
On the proposed training of security, Adesanya said it is aimed at rebranding the unit in line with 21st century orientation.
Adesanya said: “Some of them (security officials) do not know the difference between being corporately dressed and not. Some of them need to cultivate or improve their culture of courtesy, especially with relation to students and visitors. This is what we have noted and intend to address if given the opportunity.”
Responding, Dr Ladele called on the group to do more to attract many former students of the college.
“Much as I appreciate what the alumni are doing in terms of reaching out, I also believe there is the need to do more, especially for our people in the Diaspora. Lots of our former students are outside the country and making impact in their various callings. Some of them would have loved to plough their God-given resources back to their alma mater if they were aware that the alumni exists and is functional. I believe their contributions would have helped in addressing some of the challenges we have in the college,” she added.
The Governing Council of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Oto/Ijanikin, Lagos, has debunked rumours that its former provost, registrar and bursar, have been asked to proceed on compulsory leave.
According to the Council, they were only “queried” after considering the report of the committee set up to implement the recommendation of an earlier committee that looked into the institutio’s financial status.
“The Governing Council in considering the report of its Implementation Committee resolved to query some officials of the college so as to be able to find answers to some administrative and financial observations noted by the committee,” said a statement by the PRO Adebowale Odunayo.
“All due process with emphasis on the college conditions of service and public service rules are being followed to ensure the college’s smooth running,” it said.
Dr Omolola Ladele, has been appointed Provost of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College Of Education (AOCOED), Oto/Ijanikin, Lagos. Ladele’s appointment was announced by the Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Moderator of the institution.
Dr Ladele was born May 16 1963, to the family of Osunkiyesi, of Lagos Island area of Lagos State. She had her basic and secondary education in Lagos and Oyo states before proceeding for her NCE at the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, Kwara State where she graduated with a distinction in Mathematics and Geography in 1981. She also bagged a first class in Mathematics Education from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State.
Dr Ladele had her M.Phil in Curriculum and Instruction (Mathematics) from the University of Lagos and in 1990 and her PhD in Mathematics Education from the Edith Cowan University, Perth, in Western Australia, Australia in 2013.
She joined AOCOED in 1990 as a Lecturer II, holding diverse positions until becoming Chief Lecturer in 2003.
Until her appointment, Mrs Ladele was the Director, Applied Scholastic Nigeria Limited from January 2015.
She is a member of several professional bodies, including: Institute of Chartered Mediator and Conciliators; Science Teachers’ Association of Nigeria; Mathematics Association of Nigeria; and Mathematics Education Research Group of Australia.
Meanwhile, Mrs Omotayo Oluwole has been reappointed Librarian for the next three year.
Mrs Oluwole, who joined the college in April 1993 as a Librarian I, rose to Senior Librarian (1996), Principal Librarian (1999), Assistant Chief Librarian (2003) and Chief Librarian (2007).
An alumnus of St Anne’s School, Molete, Ibadan, Mrs Oluwole obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Education) Degree in History from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in 1986, and a Masters in Library Studies the University of Ibadan in 1989.
The newly constituted Governing Council Chairman of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Oto/Ijanikin Lagos at its inaugural meeting held at the College Council Chamber, ratified the appointment of Mr. Oyewolu Babatunde Sunday
Born July 7, Oyewolu had Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and a Higher National Diploma (HND) also in
Business Administration with Specialisation in Personnel Management and Industrial Relations in 1985 and 1988 respectively.
The Ogun State born Chartered Accountant also belongs to some professional bodies including: the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (ACIT) and the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) among others.
Oyewolu joined the service of the AOCOED as executive officer (Accounts) in August, 1990 and rose through the ranks to post of a Chief Accountant in 2005. Until his recent appointment, as the College he was the head of Management Information unit of the Bursary Department.
The protest that rocked the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Oto Ijanikin, Lagos, on Friday, has subsided. However, there are concerns that except the government finds a lasting solution to what workers and students described as “poor financial state” of the oldest tertiary institution in Lagos, the college may continue in industrial crises. ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA reports:
Students of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Oto/Ijanikin, Lagos are not happy that their second semester examinations, which were to begin on Monday, have been put on hold because of last Friday’s protest by the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU).
Many students, particularly finalists who are dreaming of signing off from the college after three years of strenuous academic exercise, are worried being victims of a development they are not responsible for.
• Police team from Ijanikin Police statiom on guard…on Monday.
After the protest, team of policemen from the Ijanikin Police Division was stationed at the college gate on Monday, to forestall further uprising. But, by Tuesday, the police vacated as NASU reopened the gates for activities to resume.
The Friday protest disturbed human and vehicular movements as the protesters blocked both ends of the Mile2/Badagry Expressway with AOCOED Students Union buses, a scenario that dragged for about two hours.
On Monday morning, many of the shocked students gathered in front of AOCOED gate discussing their predicament in hushed tones. Some were desperate to know how the exams would be rescheduled. Others simply walked away when it became obvious the exams would not hold.
Worse still, NASU began an indefinite strike that was nipped in the bud on Monday after its meeting with the government in Alausa same day.
The examinations will begin today (August 13) in the nearly 60-year-old institution. However, students insist until the problems that are causing incessant crisis in the institution are fully addressed, peace will remain an illusion in the school.
“We want the Lagos State government to address the problem of underfunding in our college. It has become alarming,” said the President of AOCOED Students’ Union, Waheed Ojoare.
“This and some other problems, such as inadequate infrastructure are generating industrial crisis and affecting our own future as students. We identify with the management and workers who are calling on the government to increase our monthly subvention and give us a financial bailout…” Ojoare told The Nation.
The Genesis
In October last year, the three unions in AOCOED – College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education in Nigeria (SSUCOEN), and NASU – locked up the college in a protest against the management. The workers were protesting the poor financial status of the institution, non-promotion of their members, management’s non-remittance of their pension fund to the administrators and owing the five cooperatives in the college hundreds of millions of naira.
The leadership of COEASU and SSUCOEN, especially, accused the management of not being open with the finances.
The strike dragged for about a month, after which it was suspended following a communiqué signed by both parties spelling out modalities on how the outstanding money owed cooperatives and pension fund administrators would be settled. The government also raised an Audit Committee as demanded by workers to investigate the finances of the college before considering a financial bailout or a raise in its monthly subvention or both.
Following a crisis by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising all four institutions in Lagos-Lagos State University (LASU), Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED) Epe; Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) and AOCOED in 2009, former governor Babtunde Raji fashola agreed an increase in subvention for all the institutions after the iuuses were resolved in 2010. The Nation checks revealed that since that time government has subsequently released a bailout and a raise in subvention to other sister institutions, while AOCOED is being left out.
The National President of the AOCOED Alumni Association Comrade Adeyemi Adesanya, recalled that as a former chairman of COEASU AOCOED, he alongside others in other tertiary institutions owned by Lagos State, began the agitation for increased subvention to the college.
“The financial state of the college is something we have been discussing over time,” Adesanya lamented.
“Since 2010, we have been agitating for the payment of 53.37 per cent salary increase in the four Lagos higher institutions as approved by the Federal Government. The former administration agreed to increase subventions of the institutions. Though the government said they could only pay 25 per cent, but we all agreed just to let peace reign. But afterwards there has been an increase in the monthly subvention in other sister institutions in Lagos, but AOCOED was left out. What is our offence?” Adesanya asked rhetorically.
According to the management, it recieves N120 million as monthly subvention but spends about N180 million on workers’ salaries and other expenditures.
Workers accuse COEASU/SSUCOEN, of heating up the school
Workers have accused the leadership of COEASU and SSUCOEN, led by Comrades Micheal Avosetinyen and Wunmi Ombugadu, of complicating issues with their ‘strongly worded’ they wrote to the government demanding due process.
• Bashorun
During the college’s 25th convocation, news filtered in that the Provost, Mr Wasiu Olalekan Bashorun, had been reappointed.
However, The Nation reliably gathered that the failure of the management to meet all obligations as contained in the communiqué, compelled the unions to write a series of petitions, which many believed scuttled Bashorun’s reappointment. Worse still, many wonderad at the rationale behind the letters since all had agreed on the poor financial state of the school.
COEASU/SSUCOEN…Our positions
•Ombugadu
Although there is a division within the unions, Avosetinyen and Ombugadu stood their ground, awaiting the report of government’s Audit Committee.
Sources said during the convocation, Ombugadu and Avosetinyen were said to have met the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule, to book an appointment with her.
On Tuesday last week, the government invited the unions in AOCOED, MOCPED) and LASPOTECH (LASU not included) for a meeting. Ombugadu who spoke on behalf of the unions, was said to have requested that the government should comply with the provisions of the college’s Condition of Service in respect to the appointment of a new provost. Ombugadu was reportedly credited with telling the government to place an embargo on recruitment and conversion of members, a claim she denied.
“As coeasu AOCOED, we have always insisted on due process in appointments,” said Avosentiyen.
“I will describe as unsubstantiated the rumour that our Provost has been given a second term without following due process. Bashorun is a beneficiary of due process.”
He continued: “An advertorial has to be placed and interested candidates would put in their application letters, while the Governing Council oversees interview of all candidates and eventually the shortlisting and appointment of a new provost. But that is not yet done before the news was all over that our provost has been reappointed.”
Ombugadu: I am being threatened
Ombugadu is alleging a threat to life by NASU chairman Comrade Femi Adebayo. Speaking with our reporter on phone, Ombugadu said following a series of letter the union had written to the government, Adebayo has been harassing her and some of her members with touts. Adebayo denied the allegation .
Ombugadu said: “In the communiqué, management promised to be remitting 26 months pension fund arrears twice every month, but later breached that agreement. Management did not also remit our cooperative fund to the five cooperatives. Management had promised to pay 55 per cent within three weeks of suspension of the strike but that was also breached. All these money has been deducted from our salaries. Cooperative had to secure loans from two banks as a form of bailout. We had written several letters of reminder to management, to no avail. Before, the Lagos State government once owed us arrears but has paid all, yet management is not living up to expectation.
“Second, the college has been in a state of impunity, In February 2015, the three unions in the college held a press briefing. That was disrupted by somebody we believe is close to the management. We reported the case to the management but they did not do anything about it.
“I met the deputy governor for the first time on convocation day. Government then called the leadership of the state tertiary institutions-AOCOED, MOCPED, and LASPOTECH for a meeting which was headed by Deputy Governor Dr Idiat Adebule on Tuesday (August 4) last week. I spoke on behalf of AOCOED and pleaded that the college needed a financial bailout and a raise in its monthly subvention. I also said the college has its Condition of Service which should be followed in the appointment of new provost. NASU, and COEASU were there but they never opposed my views.”
She went on: “Shortly after the meeting, the vice chairman of my union called me and said I told the deputy governor to place embargo on employment and conversion of our members. I immediately denied that. But before we arrived the college, the rumour was already all over the place and was generating lots of controversy.
“On Friday, the college was closed by NASU and I was blamed for protest. I was already on my way to work but I had to turn back immediately to avoid the escalation of the protest,” Ombugadu said.
NASU Chairman denies allegations
•Adebayo
“It is just unfortunate that you don’t know Ombugadu,” Adebayo said.
“It is a fictitious story and she is insulting my personality. She should show the public ‘some’ of the my touts that she claimed have been harassing her. This is an academic setting and that is abnormal
“I can tell you categorically that she made that reckless statement. The director of education in the Ministry (of Education) and several top government officials were in that meeting. You can ask them for confirmation.
“To me, It was like that meeting was stage-managed. She was the one that was asked by the government representative to speak on our behalf. I was not allowed to utter a word, despite my protest. We raised our hands but were prevented.
“In truth it was NASU that protested to again draw government’s attention to the financial state of AOCOED. Our grouse is that the pitiable financial state of the college is crippling us. We urgently need a bailout and an increase in subvention. That was what our union told government in a meeting on Monday. No one would shy away from the fact that the college is grossly underfunded and management within its power has been struggling to meet its responsibilities to workers. All we are interested is that government should pay our money because all unions are highly indebted. Since government gave a bailout to LASU, MOCPED and LASPOTECH, then AOCOED should not be an exception.”
Reactions from the floor
A teacher in the college who pleaded not to be named, described Bashorun as a good but gullible person.
“He (Bashorun) is a good person who means well for the institution. I remember his manifestoes when he assumed office and I can see he fulfilled many of them. The problem I have is that the man is surrounded by sycophants who are not telling him the truth. Unfortunately, he is too gullible to read in between the lines before things got out of hand.”
Another SSUCOEN member who pleaded anonymity said: “We all heard Bashorun’s second term appointment had been finalised; but SSUCOEN leadership appears to be his greatest enemy. Even here, (SSUCOEN), some of us are favourably disposed to his ambition. Nonetheless, I expected him to have immediately summoned the leadership of SSUCOEN and COEASU, after hearing the news of his appointment and appealed to them, either through entering a pact or pleading for more time to attend to their requests.”
Mgt praises Dep.Governor’s maturity
The Registrar, Olumuyiwa Coker, said the management promptly complied with government’ directive since the letter arrived on Friday.
Coker said: “Despite the rumour flying around, we want to thank the deputy governor for her magnanimity and maturity by calling the staff unions to hear their views and wading into the crisis and restoring peace. We are also absolving any top official in government of having a hand in our crisis. Government has the final say on all matters.”
The college PRO, Adebowale Odunayo, said: “The management regrets that the second semester examinations scheduled to begin Monday would now start today (Thursday). Calm has returned to AOCOED. Meanwhile, the management is currently reviewing and appraising situations and looking at issues and would make an official statement in due course.”
We shall not compromise due process…Govt.
A top government official, who also pleaded not to be mentioned, said the government would not bend rules for anybody.
“Our governor (Ambode) does not favour anybody. He is not the one that would circumv ent rules. He follows procedure. He follows everything to the letter.
“All the talk about second term is a mere rumour. That is why I’m advising journalists to always crosscheck their facts before going to the press,” the source concluded.
Peace has since returned to the institution as students finally begin their second semester examination today.
•Workers allege doctoring of provost’s re-appointment letter
Workers and students of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin, Lagos State,yesterday blocked both ends of the Mile 2/Badagry Expressway in a protest to draw government’s attention to the plight of the institution.
The workers and students were protesting against the failure to increase the college monthly subvention since 2010 and renewal of appointment of the provost, Mr Wasiu Bashorun Olalekan, among others.
As early as 7am , the highways were blocked with a bus belonging to the Student Union Government of the college.Motorists and passengers went through horrendous moments as they were stuck on the highways for hours.
However, The Nation learnt that the protest may not be unconnected to the alleged doctoring of the letter of appointment of AOCOED provost for a second term in office, a development that has created a crisis of interest in the institution.
Impeccable sources told The Nation that Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode has approved the re-appointment of the provosts of the state owned colleges of education- AOCOED and the Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED) Epe. However, while MOCPED has received its letter, AOCOED is still waiting to be officially communicated.
Meanwhile, new twist emerged that certain elements in government in connivance with the college’s Chairman of the Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education of Nigeria (SSUCOED) Wumi Ombugadu, are considering doctoring the letter to reverse Bashorun approval in favour of another professor of Education at the Lagos State University, who is being favoured to succeed Bashorun.
Speaking with The Nation yesterday, Ombugadu said: “I do not have any relationship with any top shot in government. As a union leader, I met the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule during the college convocation two weeks ago. We briefly spoke and I booked an appointment with her on Tuesday (August 4) alongside three other unions.
“During the meeting, the deputy governor emphasised on due process on selection of a new provost in which the current provost also benefitted from.”
