GOV. FAYEMI ORDERED SACK OF WORKERS,  NOT ME VC's

The attention of the Vice Chancellor, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Professor Edward Olanipekun has been drawn to a publication in Wazobia and other online media credited to him with the above caption.

In the said publication, the Vice Chancellor was alleged to have granted interview where he purportedly claimed that the Governor of Ekiti State and Visitor to the University, Dr Kayode Fayemi ordered the sack of workers in the University.

I wish to state unequivocally that the Vice Chancellor did not grant any interview where he purportedly made the statement. The story apart from being misleading and mischievous, is nothing but a figment of  imagination of its promoter who is bent on destroying the good relationship between the Vice Chancellor and Ekiti State Governor.

The facts are there for anybody to verify that the responsibility of formulating policies in the University falls within the purview of the Governing Council and the Council under the leadership of Professor Bamitale Omole will not shirk in its responsibility in that regard.

It is crystal clear that Dr Kayode Fayemi, by his pedigree (unlike the promoter of the misleading story and his paymaster), is familiar with the workings of the University system. This he has demonstrated since he came on board by not interfering in the management of Ekiti State University. The University has enjoyed tremendous support of Dr Fayemi and his government through various interventions. For example, his intervention led to the accreditation of the medical programme of the College of Medicine which culminated in the graduation of the first set of Medical students that had stagnated for about ten years. His intervention through the release of funds also brought about the accreditation of various degree programmes in the University.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Governor of Ekiti State, while exercising his power as the Visitor to the University constituted a Visitation Panel which culminated in the issuance of Government white paper arising from the recommendations of the Visitation Panel.

Thereafter, as a fall out of the white paper, the Governing Council commissioned a firm of External Auditors  to carry out a comprehensive staff audit in the University.

The Governing Council of Ekiti State University at its meeting of 5th December, 2019 considered the report of the staff audit carried out by the firm. This is sequel to the findings in the Report of the Visitation Panel as accepted by the Government White Paper to the university which noted among other things that there was over staffing, redundancy and personnel misalignment in virtually all the sections of the university and which astronomically increased the wage bill of the University beyond its capacity to pay.

The Governing Council noted the findings contained in the Report of the External Staff Auditors that:
(1) over 600 workers were employed irregularly against university regulations within the period 2016-2018 thereby causing a major personnel disalignment  and skyrocketing of the university wage bill by about 100% within two years.
(2) 228 members of staff could not produce/show evidence of Primary School Leaving Certificate
(3) there were some ghost workers whose names were found on the university pay roll without being on the university nominal role.
(4) some members of staff presented falsified birth and educational certificates.
(5) some of the members of staff lacked the required basic educational qualification.
(6) some members of staff were illegally retained in the university services after having been due to retire.
(7) there are other cases of over aged staff.

Consequently after due consideration of the issues involved, and the overall best interest of the university in being properly positioned for local relevance and global competitiveness, the Governing Council of Ekiti State University directed that those who were found to have fallen into the categories listed in 1-7 above be disengaged of their appointments forthwith in accordance with the university regulations.

This is exactly what the Governing Council did.

Therefore, to drag the name of Dr Fayemi into the matter is callous and unacceptable. Between 2015 and 2018, the administration of Dr Fayemi's predecessor was owing workers 8 months salaries. The administration did not release a dime to the University as Capital vote neither did it increase its subvention. Rather, the administration colluded with the administration of the former Vice Chancellor to flood the University with many staff thus increasing the wage bill which led the University to its present precarious and parlous state.

I wish to advise that the promoter (and his paymaster) should desist from spreading falsehood and join hands in reclaiming the lost values of Ekiti State.

Bode Olofinmuagun
Head, Directorate of Information & Corporate Affairs,
Ekiti State University,
Ado Ekiti.