The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday arraigned the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, (FUNAAB), Prof. Olusola Oyewole and Pro -Chancellor of the institution, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, for conspiracy and stealing at the Ogun State High Court in Abeokuta.
The university Bursar, Moses Ilesanmi, is standing trial along with them on 18 -count charge for which they had pleaded not guilty.
It was the perfect institution – peaceful and with a calender that ran monthly until things started going wrong. The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has now become a hotbed of crisis. In the last three months, it has been embroiled in an industrial dispute. The university management and council are at war with the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) over the sack of 23 workers. ERNEST NWOKOLO examines the issues.
The crisis rocking the Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), Abeokuta, appears to have worsened.
For three months, the 28-year-old institution, once reputed for peace, stability, healthy conservatism, excellent academic culture, research and human capital development, has been embroiled in an intractable internal turmoil brought about by the feud between its management and the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU).
And it is like every measure adopted to resolve it, leads the university inexorably further down the path of crisis.
The crisis peaked on November 10, with the sack of 23 members of SSANU by the Governing Council, at a meeting chaired by its Chairman, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, who is reportedly being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Those sacked include Lasun Somoye, Abdusalaam Sobbor and E.A. Bankole, three medical doctors – Dr Ajayi A.O., Dr Olaniran I.O. and Dr O.O. Salami, two health workers – Mr Oyero, a laboratory scientist and Miss K.O. Adeyemi, a medical record officer.
Also, the SSANU executives, led by Rotimi Fasunwon, were relieved of their jobs with the university in what the Registrar, Matthew Ayoola, stated was a re-organisation.
Since then, some key aspects of the university business have remained largely stalled as SSANU members have withdrewn their services to protest the alleged ill-treatment of their colleagues.
Last week, hundreds of SSANU members from universities in the Western Zone, led by the National Vice President, Com. Alfred Jimoh, blocked the access roads to FUNAAB for hours in solidarity with FUNAAB chapter.
They grounded academic and other activities as scores of students, lecturers and others had difficulties moving to or from the university.
The crisis, The Nation learnt, is also affecting the university’s health centre, which is rendering skeletal services as only the Medical Director and two senior nurses are on ground the laboratory scientists and medical record officers have shunned their duty posts.
One of the sacked workers also told The Nation that the Bursary, Computer Unit, Audit Unit, Farms and Registry have been affected by the crisis.
Checks on Monday revealed that salaries had not been paid since October because the officers expected to prepare the vouchers, who are mostly SSANU members, have refused to resume work.
However, the Head, FUNAAB Directorate of Public Relations, Mrs Emi Alawode, denied that that the workers were being owed salaries because of SSANU strike.
“It is not true that workers have not been paid or owed two months arrears. Our salary has been delayed due to logistics challenges. Most People have been paid the September Salary, if there are people still owed, they are likely to be casual staff and there is an arrangement to sort that out,” she said.
Efforts have been made by some groups and individuals to quell the crisis. Apart from the national SSANU leadership, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has also condemned the sack and called on the university to recall the workers. So far, there is no indication the management heeding to their calls.
Also, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, who expressed sadness over the turn of events at the university, pledged to intervene when a delegation of SSANU from Western zone visited him over FUNAAB 23.
The Nation also gathered that the Senate Committee on Education invited the SSANU executive led by Fasunwon and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, for a meeting in Abuja on Monday.
The Head, FUNAAB Directorate of Public Relations, Mrs Emi Alawode, said that Oyewole was in Abuja on Monday but said there was no official briefing that he attended a peace meeting in respect of FUNAAB crisis.
Fasunwon confirmed that the meeting held though the vice chancellor and the council chairman were absent.
“I attended the meeting with the Senate Committee but the VC did not come though he was in Abuja. The governing Council Chairman was also absent. However, we made our presentation to the Committee. They have reconvened a meeting for next Monday to allow the all parties attend,” he said.
Before the sack, allegations of fraud against the vice-chancellor, the Bursar, Mr. Moses Ilesanmi, the Council Chairman, Ogunlewe, and other members of council had been causing tension in the system.
The allegations were not unconnected with the internal politics of succession for the position of the Vice – Chancellor, Olusola Oyewole, whose tenure elapses May 2017.
Some workers alleged that they could not wait to see his tenure end, claiming that Oyewole did not treat them well like his predecessor, Prof. Olufemi Balogun.
Many, who are eyeing the office underground, it was also learnt, are using SSANU to prosecute a proxy war against him in case he has somebody he supports as likely successor.
Oyewole himself has identified “internal politics” and associated intrigues as the triggers of the crisis that has plagued the university under him.
He however expressed the confidence he would be vindicated, having done well to move the institution forward.
Recently, he and Ilesanmi were reportedly quizzed at the Ibadan office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of corruption and breach of public trust against the university management.
The allegations were brought forward by some SSANU members, who also followed it through with a petition to the EFCC which prompted the anti-graft to quiz the Vice – Chancellor and others.
The petitioners claimed that Oyewole and others allegedly defrauded the FUNAAB of N108.2 million. They claimed the VC allegedly collected N23 million in furniture allowance in four years as against the law that allows N5.7 million.
According to SSANU, the law allows for 300 per cent of basic salary once in four years only for officers not residing in government apartment.
They further claimed that the VC had been collecting N5.7 million annually despite residing in a well furnished apartment constructed by the school.
They also claimed that Oyewole allegedly collected another N23 million in housing/rent allowance in defiance of a government circular which prohibited public office holders resident in official quarters from doing so.
However, in a statement, Mrs Alawode, explained that Oyewole and Ilesanmi appeared before the EFCC to make clarifications on issues concerning FUNAAB.
“As public officers as well as responsible and law abiding citizens, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, and the Bursar, Mr. Moses Ilesanmi, have since honoured the invitation by the anti-graft agency to make clarifications on issues bordering on the administration of the university,” Alawode stated.
Nonetheless, Oyewole followed the petition with the suspension of three SSANU members connected with the issue. Their suspension was contained in a letter dated August 22, 2016 and signed by the Registrar, Ayoola.
Those suspended at the time were SSANU National Publicity Secretary, Salaam Sobbor, former SSANU National Deputy President, Emmanuel Bankole and former FUNAAB Public Relations Officer, ‘Lasun Somoye.
Oyewole also accused the three of “meddlesomeness and with confirmatory evidence of participation in some acts prejudicial to the smooth running and governance of the university.”
The Vice – Chancellor relied on FUNAB Act, 1992, No 48 and Section 17(2) in arriving at his suspension order on the trio.
The suspension set – off a chain of reactions that have affected the smooth running of the institution.
Also, the Governing Council dismissed allegations of fraud against its members by SSANU as mere blackmail and falsehood.
SSANU on its part hit back at Oyewole on August 24, 2016 and announced his suspension and that of Ogunlewe and other members of the Governing Council.
The union claimed by the suspension, Oyewole, Ogunlewe and others were therefore restrained from further exercising their respective functions as officials of the university until subsequent notice.
Fasunwon, claimed the Vice-Chancellor erred when he suspended the SSANU members without fair following due process. He said they were neither queried nor made to face any Disciplinary Committee before being sanctioned.
Not done, the SSANU staged series of protests within and outside the university campus, and petitioned President Muhamadu Buhari, to immediately remove Oyewole, Ogunlewe, dissolve the Governing Council and set up a visitation panel for the university.
However, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), FUNAAB chapter, has Oyewole’s back. In August, its members warned SSANU that they would resist any attempt to remove the VC and others by crooked means.
ASUU Chairman, Dr. Adebayo Oni, said: “We will not condone any attempt by anybody or group to remove the Vice – Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, through ‘crooked’ route without recourse to ‘due process’ and ‘extant laws’ of the university. Any aggrieved staff or union should not resort to lawlessness as there are established internal mechanisms and due process for handling complaints as clearly spelt out in FUNAAB’s extant laws.”
But there is a glimmer of hope that the crisis may end soon. One of the sacked SSANU members told The Nation that the National SSANU and NLC leadership are looking forward to having a meeting with the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, over the situation of things in FUNAAB, particularly the fate of FUNAAB 23.
Members of SSANU have resumed on individual basis when the management passed a circular calling people to be at their duty posts.
Consultations are ongoing to ensure a lasting truce between all concerned.
“Dialogue will resolve it. Never say never to resolution when there are problems. We are all praying that everything will be resolved in favour of everybody and that both parties would smile at the end of the day,” Mrs Alawode said.
THE Nigeria Labour Congress( NLC) has called for the unconditional recall of the 23 staff of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta(FUNAAB) who were sacked by the management of the institution.
In a letter to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, dated November 15, 2016 and signed by the NLC National President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the NLC described the actions of the management as bordering on “impunity, lawlessness and violation of the workers’ rights.
” The apex labour union said the anti – corruption crusade of the present administration would not succeed if whistle blowers are not protected from victimisation as was the case with those in FUNAAB. Many members of staff of the institution were following a petition against the Pro – Chancellor and Vice Chancellor, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe and Professor Olusola Bamidele respectively to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC).
The letter reads in part: “We have it on good authority that between November 8 and 11, 2016, 23 staff have been relieved of their appointments maliciously and in a vindictive manner. “Do permit us to observe that the actions of the council and management of FUNAAB do not only constitute impunity and lawlessness but a violation of the fundamental human rights of these workers as enshrined in Section 39 of the 2009 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Tension enveloped the crisis – ridden Federal University of Agriculture(FUNAAB), Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Monday morning as hundreds of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities(SSANU) from universities in Western Zone blocked the access roads to FUNAAB in protest over the sack of 23 of their colleagues by the institution’s management.
Scores of students, visitors, lecturers and other members of the university community caught unaware by the blockade of the FUNAAB Alabata road, had a hectic time moving to or fro the university.
The protesting SSANU used born fire, vehicles and human shield to obstruct traffic flow to draw attention to what they called injustice and victimisation of members by FUNAAB management while motorists rode on greenland to beat the obstructions.
Many of the workers simply abandoned their vehicles on the road and trekked, and others managed to board the commercial motor – cycles called Okada in threes to access FUNAAB once reputed as about the most peaceful university in Nigeria before it caved in to an intractable internal crisis in the last three months.
Armed Police men, Operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Traffic Wardens drafted to the area in eight Hilux Pick Up vans as well as men from the FUNAAB’s security unit laboured to ensure that the protest did not morph into violence.
Comr. Alfred Jimoh, National Vice – President Western zone, who addressed the gathering, called for an “immediate and unconditional recall” of their sacked colleagues.
Jimoh said the sin of his colleagues at FUNAAB is because they are just asking for probity, accountability and transparency in the handling of the finances of the institution.
The SSANU National Vice – President Western zone, berated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for allegedly divulging the identities of SSANU members to the Vice – Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, who were whistle – blowers to them(EFCC).
He also called for an investigation into the affairs of FUNAAB in the last four years, adding that ” if the Federal government is indeed sincere in its Anti – corruption war, the searchlight should be beamed at FUNAAB.”
He urged Nigerians of good conscience to condemn in strong terms, the evil actions at FUNAAB allegedly being perpetrated by the management.
The Nation noted that the management of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, had last Thursday sacked 23 of the non – teaching staff of the university.
The decision to sack the affected workers was reached at a meeting chaired by the Chairman of the Council, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, who was reportedly interrogated recently by the EFCC.
The Nation learnt that those sacked include Lasun Somoye, Abdusalaam Sobbor and E.A. Bankole.
The trio were said to have written a petition against the management of the institution to the anti graft agency which it relied upon to interrogate the Vice – Chancellor and others recently.
Others relieved of their jobs include three medical doctors – Dr Ajayi A.O., Dr Olaniran I.O. and Dr O.O. Salami, two health workers – Mr Oyero, a laboratory scientist and Miss K.O. Adeyemi, a medical record officer.
According to the letter dated November 10, 2016 and signed by the School registrar, M.O. Ayoola, the school said the decision followed a re-organisation in the University system.
“Due to re-organisation in the University system, the Governing Council has directed that your services are no longer required. Your appointment as… is therefore, terminated with immediate effect.
“Please hand over all University property in your possession to the Head of your Department/Unit immediately, while your Staff Identification Card should be submitted at the Establishment and Human Resources Directorate of the Registry. Please note that you will be paid one month’s salary in lieu of notice,” the letter reads in part.
The management of the Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), Abeokuta, has explained why it sacked 23 of the university non – teaching staff, majorly of whom are members of the institution’s chapter of the Senior Staff Association Nigeria Universities (SSANU), last Thursday.
It said apart from the fact that the decision was taken to reposition the university and restore peace within its campus, the “disengaged” staff “erred” and were shown the way out following various offences allegedly committed them.
In a statement made available to The Nation at the weekend by the Head, Directorate of Public Relations, Emi’ Alawode, the management listed the offences to include “stealing of University property, insubordination and wilful disobedience to lawful instructions.”
The university management also claimed the affected staff absconded from assigned duty posts, engaged in sabotage and other forms of gross misconduct prejudicial to good governance and peace of the University.
The statement reads in full: “the Governing Council of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), at its 90th Statutory Meeting, held on Thursday, November 10, 2016, considered reports on the University.
“As part of necessary reforms aimed at repositioning the University, the Governing Council approved Management’s decisions earlier taken to restore normal academic activities and peace to the University and commended the efforts of the Management and staff, to sustain the integrity of the University.
“Council also disengaged some erring staff from the services of the University for various offences, which includes stealing of University property, insubordination, wilful disobedience to lawful instructions, absconding from assigned duty posts, sabotage and other forms of gross misconduct, prejudicial to good governance and peace of the University.
“This is in line with the resolve of the Governing Council to fulfil its statutory roles of ensuring the stability of the University.
“Council further approved the appointment of Mrs. Oluremi Oyewunmi as Acting University Bursar, after the expiration of the tenure of Mr. Moses O. Ilesanmi and noted that the process for the appointment of a substantive University Bursar has began.
“Council enjoined all staff to be dedicated to duty, as necessary steps are being taken to attend to issues of welfare, such as promotions, staff training and development while reiterating its resolve not to entertain any form of indiscipline in the University.”
But reacting, the National Executive Council of SANNU called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene quickly and over – rule the Management of FUNAAB over the sack of its members.
In a letter to the President dated 11th November, 2016 and signed by its President, Samson Ugwoke, the Association faulted the actions of the University management.
SSANU leadership said the sack reeks of a gross violation of the fundamental Human Right of its members to Freedom of Expression and Association as enshrined in section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Mr President Sir, the Union kindly requests your immediate intervention to reverse the sack and allow the investigation by the EFCC to continue. This we believe will encourage patriotic Nigerians to key in and actively participate in Mr President’s fight against corruption,” he stated.
Anticipating a show-down from the non-academic staff over the sack of 23 of their colleagues last Thursday, the Management of the Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), Abeokuta, has issued a stern warning to non-teaching staff, saying any of them that fails to report for work tomorrow (Monday), will be penalised.
In a circular released on Friday and signed by the University’s Registrar, the management threatened to sanction any non-teaching staff not at his or her duty post on Monday.
FUNAAB has been plagued by internal crisis arising from deepening feud between the management and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), FUNAAB chapter, which culminated in the sack of 23 of SSANU members last week. The association’s leadership has been accusing the school management of mismanagement in several petitions written to agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC).
Both the Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe and the Vice Chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole, as well as the institution’s Bursar, were reportedly interrogated at the Ibadan Zonal Office of the anti – graft agency recently.
In a move the association insist is out of vengeance, three of its members suspected to have signed the petition, were swiftly suspended and later had their appointments terminated via a letter dated 10 November, 2016. Also, some executive of SSANU FUNAAB chapter, under the leadership of Rotimi Fasunwon, also had their appointments terminated.
The circular bearing threat of sanction against non-teaching staff that stay away from duty reads in part: “the Governing Council at its meeting of Thursday, November 10, 2016 considered the report of recent events and happenings on campus. Council noted in particular the lingering absence of some non-teaching members of staff from duty without due process.
“Council expressed it’s displeasure at the development and directed that such absentee staff be advised in their own interest to resume work latest on Monday, November 14, 2016 failing which Management should take whatever measure it deems necessary within the Rules and Regulations of the University to handle the matter and restore normalcy and discipline on campus.
“Consequent on the above, Management hereby directs all non-teaching staff to be at their duty posts immediately. Any non-teaching staff not available at his or her duty posts as from Monday, November 14, 2016 and not officially on leave will be sanctioned accordingly.”
The management of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, has suspended the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) for rooting for three of its suspended members. The problem, however, gets messier as the workers have since embarked on solidarity protests outside the school gate for their members until the matter is resolved. ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA and ERNEST NWOKOLO, Abeokuta report
Could the crisis at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, be a succession struggle?
This is one of the questions agitating the minds of workers as FUNAAB is locked in a battle with the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) of the institution.
The problem has further degenerated with the ‘invasion’ of the Academic Staff Union (ASUU), which has warned SSANU not to turn FUNAAB into a ‘Banana Republic’
At the moment, SSANU members are protesting at the institution’s gate, calling for the head of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Olusola Oyewole, immediate past Bursar Mr Moses Ilesanmi (Ilesanmi retired on September 22) as well as the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe. The union also called on President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Assembly and the Minister of Education to dissolve the Governing Council and set up a Visitation Panel to probe the allegations.
As at the time of filing this report, SSANU members had boycotted work to participate in the protest.
“We are here at the entrance gate as we have been doing since our union was suspended by management,” Chairman of SSANU FUNAAB Comrade Rotimi Fasunwon said.
“Management decided to suspend our executive because we kicked against the suspension of three of our members for submitting allegations of financial fraud by the management to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“But rather than allow for a thorough investigation, management suspended the petitioners, who are our members. We have, therefore, called on our members to suspend work and join us in this protest.
“We shall continue here (entrance gate) until the management listens to us.
“The tenure of the immediate past bursar expired on September 22, but rather than appoint three other senior officers in that department to replace him, the management picked a Level 13 officer, and made her the Registrar to help them cover the fraud allegations. This is an aberration as the VC cannot disrupt Registry hierarchy. SSANU says no to that.”
The protest, The Nation learnt, was provoked by management’s suspension of the Rotimi Fasunwon-led executive. SSANU’s crime? The union pressed for the recall of three of their members who had been asked to proceed on suspension by management, following a petition earlier by the trio against the management to the EFCC.
ASUU Chairman Dr. Adebayo Oni said they would not condone any attempt by anybody or group to remove Oyewole, through ‘crooked’ route without recourse to ‘due process’ and ‘extant laws’.
But in a text message to The Nation on Monday, the institution’s Head, Directorate of Public Relations (DPR), Emi’ Alawode, said the management was working on settling the matter.
“Management is committed to a truce through dialogue. Efforts are ongoing to see that this is achieved,” she said.
Alawode explained that the invitation by the EFCC was to enable the VC and Registrar make some clarifications on some issues.
“As public officers as well as responsible and law-abiding citizens, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, and the Bursar, Mr. Moses Ilesanmi, have since honoured the invitation by the anti-graft agency to make clarifications on issues regarding the administration of the university,” Alawode stated.
Nonetheless, The Nation investigation revealed that except urgent steps are taken, truce does not appear in sight yet.
In its 28 years, FUNAAB appears not to have been entangled in industrial crises. However, by last August, the institution slipped into an industrial gridlock, following the suspension of some union executives — the National Publicity Secretary, Salaam Subbor, former SSANU National Deputy President Emmanuel Bankole and FUNAAB former Public Relations Officer ‘Lasun Somoye.
The unionists accused the management and the Governing Council of financial corruption of over N108 million. That development has since truncated internal harmony as FUNAAB has known no peace.
The document by the petitioners mentioned how the vice-chancellor, bursar, as well as Senator Ogunlewe and other Council members allegedly ‘defrauded’ the varsity.
The association’s Chairman, Fasunwo Olurotimi, told reporters that the VC collected N23 million as furniture allowance in four years contrary to provisions of the law.
He claimed that the law allows 300 per cent of basic salary once in four years, for officers who are not residing in government apartments, adding that the VC had been collecting N5.7 million yearly, despite residing in a well-furnished apartment built by the institution.
He alleged that despite living in official residence, Oyewole also collected another N23 million as housing/rent allowance.
According to him, the VC had been collecting the money despite a government circular, which prohibited public office holders resident in official quarters from doing so.
Following the petition, EFCC, a few weeks ago, invited and quizzed Oyewole and Ilesanmi at various times at their Ibadan, Oyo State, zonal office – a development that resulted in management’s suspension of the petitioners, The Nation further learnt.
A letter dated August 22, and signed by the university Registrar, M. O. Ayoola, which suspended the three unionists, accused them of “meddlesomeness and with confirmatory evidence of participation in some acts prejudicial to the smooth running and governance of the university.”
In the said letter, the management hinged its action on FUNAB Act, 1992, No 48 and Section 17(2).
In what seemed like a counter -action, SSANU hit back at Oyewole, allegedly ‘suspending’ him. The union also ‘suspended’ Senator Ogunlewe and members of FUNAAB’s Governing Council.
By the suspension, SSANU claimed, Oyewole, Ogunlewe and others were, therefore, restrained from further exercising their functions as officials of the univarsity until further notice.
Defending his colleagues, Fasunwon said the VC erred in suspending three of their colleagues without fair hearing and due process. He claimed that the suspended members were neither queried nor made to face any Disciplinary Committee before the action was taken against them.
Further, Fasunwon argued that it was wrong for the VC of a university to take such a unilateral decision when he was still under investigation by a government agency.
ASUU’s line of reasoning was, however, different. According to the union, any aggrieved staff or union should not resort to “lawlessness” as there are established internal mechanisms and due process procedures for handling complaints spelt out in FUNAAB’s extant laws.
“Our union (ASUU) will vehemently resist any attempt to turn our highly reverred university, locally and internationally, into a ‘banana republic’ or ‘animal farm,’ ASUU said.
It continued: “The vice-chancellor and the council are duly appointed in line with the laws establishing the university and cannot be removed from office by fiat or crookedness without due process.
“This union would not condone (it) under any guise. We, hereby, dissociate ourselves from any clandestine move to drag the reputation of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, into the mud,” Oni said.
But Fasunwon accused ASUU of supporting their members instead of allowing the allegations, which are in public domain, to be investigated.
The Nation gathered that two factors seemed to be boosting the crisis. The first is internal politics of producing Oyewole’s successor when his tenure eventually expires by May, next year.
Another source felt many workers in the institution are not happy with Oyewole’s handling of their welfare. The source claimed he did not treat them well like his predecessor Prof Olufemi Balogun – a purported crime, those angling clandestinely to succeed Oyewole are using to make him uncomfortable.
Many, who were scheming to succeed Oyewole, it was learnt, might also be using the ‘proxy war’ to destabilise any plan to instal a stooge to succeed him.
But Oyewole expressed the confidence that he would be vindicated at the end of the day and appealed to the agitating unions – (SSANU to give peace a chance.
Stll defending her boss, Mrs Alawode said SSANU’s allegation that its executive was suspended for supporting their members “cannot be really substantiated”.
“I am not aware of any ‘’Registry tradition’’ in our dynamic university,” she also said, in response to the union’s allegation that a Level 13 officer was appointed as Registrar ahead of her seniors.
Oyewole, who spoke with The Nation, said he did not deserve to be removed for an unjust cause, adding that he had improved the rating of the university as well as empowering the staff and students.
He declined comment on the EFCC’s invitation, noting that since the matter was under investigation, he “believes that the agency will leave no stone unturned in their findings.”
“It’s just that there may be some vested, external interest in what happened,” Oyewole said.
He continued: “I have tried my best for the system; we’ve had this type of experience in this university, when it’s getting to the end of tenure of the Vice Chancellor. But by God’s grace, we’ll get over it.’’
The management of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has endorsed the decision of its Senate to reopen the institution on October 3, 2016.
The Senate also directed that all students of the university, including postgraduate students, those on Industrial Training (IT) and the Farm Practical Year (FPY), should pay a reparation fee of N5,000 to cover replacement of private and public property worth millions of naira destroyed when students protested perennial robbery attacks on August 18, 2016.
The protest resulted in the burning of seven vehicles, a police post, vandalisation of the Divine Heights Bible Church, Abeokuta, and other properties.
A statement signed by the university’s Head, Directorate of Public Relations (DPR), Mrs Emi Alawode, noted that the crisis was well investigated and involved 13 sittings by the committee set up to investigate the unrest, during which it interacted with about 80 stakeholders for about nine hours daily.
The statement added that the decision to fine all students was as a result of difficulties determining the actual culprits.
The statement reads: “Since it is practically impossible to determine the real students that either participated or did not take part in the action, that warranted the payment of damages, the reparation fee is to serve as a deterrent against any future occurrence, while the rest of the funds would be used to enhance security facilities for the entire University community, over a period of time. To ensure transparency and accountability, the University Management would not be involved in the disbursement of the funds, as a special committee had been constituted, that would ensure that the reparation fee is judiciously utilised, while the amount to be paid to each claimant would depend on the degree of loss suffered.”
The Governing Council of the church has, however, said it would not accept money for repairs as it has forgiven the students for attacking the church, but it said owners of personal vehicles burnt within the church premises, should be compensated.
The statement also claimed that the President of the Students’ Union, Comrade Olusegun Nwenoye, said “the FUNAAB Students’ Union had no objection to the reparation fee”.
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has commended the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), for successfully carrying out the 2016/2017 Pre-Admission Screening Exercise for prospective students of the university.
Senior Information and Monitoring Officer of NUC, Mr. Mohammed Tanko, who represented NUC at the occasion, lauded members of staff of FUNAAB and other government functionaries that actively participated in the 2016/2017 Pre-Admission Screening Exercise for a job well done in terms of logistics, welfare, thoroughness and adherence to laid down procedures.
Tanko said his task was to monitor the screening exercise, to ensure that the university does not breach the directive of the Federal Government through the Minister of Education.
“So far, so good, the process has been smooth. I observed that the security arrangements were properly made. The traffic and strategy that were deployed by both the internal and external security personnel, the Department of State Services (DSS) officers, which I saw on ground and men of other sister-agencies, who participated in the screening, were very much commendable. The strategy of the decentralised screening centre (as adopted by FUNAAB) was commendable, as students were well taken care of while transportation was also commendable.”
He charged the University to keep to its admission quota. “We expect to have quality graduate output that would compete in private and public sectors within and outside the country. So, I advise that you adhere to NUC guidelines in the areas of admission quota, rules and regulations that would come from the government through the Federal Ministry of Education,” he said.
FUNAAB Vice-Chancellor, Prof Olusola Oyewole, who is also the President, Association of African Universities, said the screening was very important to ensure that only responsible and qualified students, who would add value to the quality of the educational system, were admitted.
Speaking on the resumption date for returning the students, the Vice-Chancellor said university Senate would announce a date once it studied the report of the committee set up to investigate the recent students’ unrest.
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has commended the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), for successfully carrying out the 2016/2017 Pre-Admission Screening Exercise for prospective students of the university.
Senior Information and Monitoring Officer of NUC, Mr. Mohammed Tanko, who represented NUC at the occasion, lauded members of staff of FUNAAB and other government functionaries that actively participated in the 2016/2017 Pre-Admission Screening Exercise for a job well done in terms of logistics, welfare, thoroughness and adherence to laid down procedures.
Tanko said his task was to monitor the screening exercise, to ensure that the university does not breach the directive of the Federal Government through the Minister of Education.
“So far, so good, the process has been smooth. I observed that the security arrangements were properly made. The traffic and strategy that were deployed by both the internal and external security personnel, the Department of State Services (DSS) officers, which I saw on ground and men of other sister-agencies, who participated in the screening, were very much commendable. The strategy of the decentralised screening centre (as adopted by FUNAAB) was commendable, as students were well taken care of while transportation was also commendable.”
He charged the University to keep to its admission quota. “We expect to have quality graduate output that would compete in private and public sectors within and outside the country. So, I advise that you adhere to NUC guidelines in the areas of admission quota, rules and regulations that would come from the government through the Federal Ministry of Education,” he said.
FUNAAB Vice-Chancellor, Prof Olusola Oyewole, who is also the President, Association of African Universities, said the screening was very important to ensure that only responsible and qualified students, who would add value to the quality of the educational system, were admitted.
Speaking on the resumption date for returning the students, the Vice-Chancellor said university Senate would announce a date once it studied the report of the committee set up to investigate the recent students’ unrest.