The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Akure Zone, has accused the Federal Government of negligence and compromise over allegations of illegal recruitments, promotions, and arbitrary sack of staff by the management of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE).
The academic body alleged that some academic staff of the university were receiving double salaries while some were given undue accelerated promotions by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Soremekun, without following due process.
Addressing a press conference in Ado Ekiti on Monday, ASUU Chairmen from all universities in Akure zone, led by the Zonal Chairman, Prof. Olu-Olu Olufayo, said the federal government should set up a visitation panel to probe all the allegations against the Vice Chancellor if it’s really committed to its fight against corruption.
He stated that the panel must look into how the ASUU chairman in FUOYE, Dr. Akinyemi Omonijo, and two other academic staff members were unduly sacked for criticising the actions of the Vice Chancellor.
“This interaction is to tell you about the docility of the FG on the administrative recklessness of FUOYE VC, Prof Soremekun. We have shown to FG a document containing the rotten state of infrastructure, poor students’ welfare, wrong academic patronage, financial mismanagement, among others, being perpetrated in this university under the guise of trying to protect some individuals.
“Gross violation of the university statute has become a norm in FUOYE where an acting Bursar can be in position for two years when the statute stipulated six months. The university is still paying the salary of a staff that left the university in 2016 while also paying HOD allowance to someone not appointed as Head of Department.
“While those who criticised them were being sacked, those who were perceived to be friends were being rewarded through illegal promotions, recruitments and appointments.
“We are still marveled at the indifference of the management to the reported scam by a staff of the university who claimed to have solved a 156 year old Reinmann Mathematical hypothesis and would earn $1m from USA based Clay Mathematics Institute. Up till now, VC has not deemed it fit to ask the staff questions about this international embarrassment.
“We, ASUU from this zone, call on the FG to constitute a visitation panel to the university. This, in our own belief, will correct all anomalies and transform the university to what both staff and students can be proud of.,” he said.
Reacting to the allegations, Soremekun said all appointments, promotions and recruitments done by the management were ratified by the Governing Council, adding that whoever has evidence of illegalities against the management should forward same to appropriate quarters, rather than peddling rumours.
The Vice-Chancellor who responded through the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Geoffrey Bakji, said the accusations are coming from those who have little knowledge of the how the university was being managed.
“The VC has the power to appoint whoever is qualified to any position. And don’t also forget that the era of TSA and IPPIS has curtailed any form of fraud in the fiscal policy of any university. The university has been operating financial discipline.
“I won’t comment on the issue of the suspension of Dr. Gabriel Omonijo and two others by the management for unruly behaviour because they have gone to court. If they know they have a good case, let them wait and allow court to adjudicate on the matter,” he stated.
