
ACADEMIC STAFF UNION OF UNIVERSITIES (ASUU), AKURE ZONE
Text of a Press Conference / Release by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Akure Zone on Happenings in the Federal University Oye-Ekiti FUOYE held in Akure on 6th March, 2019
RED ALERT: STOP THE IMPUNITY AND ADMINISTRATIVE RECKLESSNES IN FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OYE-EKITI (FUOYE) NOW
For the Attention of:
Honourable Minister of Education
Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission
National Human Rights Commission
Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission
Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
Relevant Agencies of Government
Members of the General Public
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press,
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Akure Zone welcomes you to this occasion. This is the second time the Zone will address Press Conference on the directive of ASUU National body on a regime of impunity that is reigning in the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE).

The leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Akure Zone read with keen interest, the press interview granted by Dr. Opoola Tajudeen Bolanle, the current Ag. Dean, Faculty of Arts, Federal University Oye-Ekiti on happenings in ASUU-FUOYE in “The Nation online Newspaper” of Tuesday, 15th January, 2019 and the lies he concocted with the view to mislead the general public, an act which is un-academic and disgraceful to the ivory tower.
It is important to mention some of the events that took place before the press conference addressed by the ASUU, Akure Zone on the directive of the National body of the Union on the “State of FUOYE”. The branch executive of our Union had discussed all the issues in the “State of FUOYE” document with the University Administration on several occasions and also followed it up with several letters without positive results. The leadership of ASUU, Akure zone also met the Vice-Chancellor twice with the aim of resolving the issues raised by ASUU-FUOYE branch. The first meeting was held at the office of the Vice-Chancellor on Tuesday, 17th April, 2018 and the second meeting was held at the Delight Hotel, Ado-Ekiti on Monday, 30th July, 2018. Further to the above, the branch of our Union at Federal University Oye-Ekiti sent a copy of the report of “State of FUOYE” to the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of FUOYE. In addition to this, the National Secretariat of ASUU sent copies to the Chairman of Governing Council and all members of the University Governing Council.
At this juncture, we would like to shed more light on the report of “State of FUOYE” and the “press conference”. About the report on the “State of FUOYE”, the zone was made to understand that ASUU-FUOYE Adhoc Committee on Staff and Students’ Welfare that prepared the “State of FUOYE” report was empowered by the Congress of ASUU-FUOYE held at the Oye campus of the University on 11th May, 2018 through a majority vote after presentation of their report on staff and students’ welfare to the Congress on the above mentioned date. The Zone learnt that the Committee was mandated by the Congress to write a report on the “State of FUOYE: Matters Arising” to the Governing Council and copy the President of ASUU as well as the Zonal Coordinator, ASUU, Akure Zone. It was further mentioned that the report of this Committee was presented to the Executive of ASUU-FUOYE for discussion and adoption on Monday, 28th May, 2018. Copies of “State of FUOYE” report for ASUU President and that of Zonal Coordinator, ASUU, Akure zone were delivered by the Chairperson and the Treasurer of the branch (ASUU-FUOYE), to the National Secretariat of ASUU in Abuja during on Saturday, 9th June, 2018.
ASUU Akure Zone received a resolution of the congress of ASUU-FUOYE held at the Ikole campus of the University on 17th July, 2018 regarding the press conference. The resolution which was addressed to the Comrade President of ASUU through Zonal Coordinator, ASUU, Akure Zone stated that the Congress resolved through a majority vote that the Executive of ASUU-FUOYE should request for permission from ASUU National body to address a press conference in conjunction with the zone on the “State of FUOYE”. The resolution of the congress on this matter was signed by the Chairperson, Dr. Akinyemi Gabriel Omonijo and Acting Secretary of the branch, Dr. Ademola Akinsorotan. It was on the basis of this letter, that ASUU National acted and directed ASUU, Akure Zone to address press conference on the “State of FUOYE”.
Instead of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Soremekun to address issues raised by our union, he started launching media attacks on the branch of our union at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti and the Zonal leadership of ASUU, Akure Zone. He is doing all these because of his connection in the media circle. He has equally embarked on intimidation and victimization of our members at the branch. He sacked Dr. Niyi Akingbe, the Former Acting Dean, Faculty of Arts of the University who frequently criticized the Administration on account of some irregular appointments, promotions, abnormal growth and placement that characterised the Administrative style of the Vice Chancellor. He also terminated the appointment of Dr. Oluwagbemiga Adeyemi, the Former Acting Dean, Students’ Affairs of the University. Dr. Adeyemi was the Convener of the Ad-[hoc Committee constituted on the floor of Congress which held on 11th May, 2018. It was this Committee that prepared the “State of FUOYE” document that revealed some of the impunities committed by the University Administration. More recently the spate of attack on the union in the branch took a new dimension as the Branch Chairperson, Dr Akinyemi Gabriel Omonijo, was suspended without pay for no reason at all on the 14th of February vide two conflicting letters. The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, who was also alleged in the report, was a member of the investigation panel that suspended the Chairperson. How could an accused be a judge in his own case?
Dr Omonijo’s suspension as well as the other two mentioned contravened all the laws of the University, public service rules and common sense.
Below are some of the reactions of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Soremekun in various newspapers to the press conference addressed by ASUU, Akure Zone:
“On the upgrading of a non-PhD holder academic staff to the professorial cadre, Prof. Soremekun said the development was not strange as precedents abound in other universities.” The Sun Newspaper, 11.10.2018
“Becoming a professor depends on what you can offer and not about this certificate mediocrity of a thing,” he said. The Sun Newspaper, 11.10.2018
“The Vice Chancellor accused some members of ASUU as being part of those that mismanaged #10 million released by his predecessor, Prof. Isaac Asuzu, for the school’s farm inherited by his administration.” The Sun Newspaper, 11.10.2018
“In law, somebody can become a professor without holding a Ph.D, most of the older professors in law don’t have Ph.D; Ph.D is an instrument of intimidation.” The Sun Newspaper, 11.10.2018
A further reaction to the press conference addressed on Thursday, 4th October, 2018 by the ASUU, Akure Zone on the “State of Federal University Oye-Ekiti”, led one Mr. Banji Olaleye an Assistant Lecturer in the Faculty of Management Sciences to invite one of the officers of the Branch to an hotel (name withheld) in Ado-Ekiti for private discussions on Friday, 5th October, 2018. The officer turned down the invitation but Mr. Banji Olaleye trailed him to Ifaki-Ekiti where he physically and verbally issued death threat to the officer. During his encounter it was learnt that he stated he was aware of how Dr. Akinyemi Gabriel Omonijo (Chairperson, ASUU-FUOYE), Dr. Oluwagbemiga Adeyemi (Convener, ASUU-FUOYE Ad hoc Committee on State of FUOYE), Dr. Niyi Akingbe (Member, ASUU-FUOYE) and some professors whose names were not mentioned were planning to bring down the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Soremekun and that the Vice-Chancellor will not go down alone. A petition on allegation of threat to life with ref. ASUU/FUOYE/VC/10/002, dated: 10th October, 2018 was written to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Soremekun for urgent action from the University Administration. Till now there is no response from the University Administration to the Union regarding the petition.
Prior to this, there was a text message forwarded by Dr. Adeyemi to the Chairperson of the branch on 15th September, 2018. This text message is a typical example of harassment and intimidation of our members. The content reads thus:
“Forwarded from Dr. Ojeniyi FUOYE: Good am SIR, am sorry to disturb you. SIR, CABALS of Omonijo, Adeyemi, Ahkigbe, OJENIYI & Co (under umbrella of ASUU) are planning much evil with urself & FUOYE systems. Some documents had been sent to the Chairman (Governing council for study). SIR, save your brother (Prof Fasina), tell him to watch all utterances made”
Two out of four people whose names were mentioned in the above text message had already been sacked and the Branch Chairperson suspended without pay. The author of the above text message is yet to be known by the Union.
The statement of Dr. Opoola Tajudeen Bolanle in the Nation online of 15th January, 2019 showed that he was bereft of the principles and practices of our Union. His utterance was flavoured with personal sentiments as opposed to our Union’s constitution. Ours is a union of due process and not a zoo of noise. He should familiarize himself with the Union’s constitution before ranting to the press.
It is important to mention that Dr. Opoola, the present Ag. Dean, Faculty of Arts of the University that accused the Zonal Coordinator, ASUU, Akure Zone of bias is one of the beneficiaries of the Vice Chancellor. He was employed and promoted without due process as contained in the Conditions of Service of the University. Dr. Opoola’s appointment letter as a Senior Lecturer was dated 29th September, 2017 contrary to the Dean’s recommendation for the position of Lecturer 1. He was promoted to the position of Reader without the mandatory required length of service of three years in the University, and without prior, mandatory Departmental/ Faculty’s A and PC’s assessment’s report. Furthermore, his ludicrous Readership was backdated to 1st October 2017 without due regard to the Conditions of Service.
The team that disrupted the congress of 15th January 2019 was prompted by Dr. Fajinmi Ayodele, the current Director, SERVICOM of the University. Dr. Fajinmi was the Manager of the University farm when 10 million Naira released for the operations of the farm was mismanaged. The Vice-Chancellor drew allusion to this in his reaction to the press as stated earlier. It is suggestive that Dr. Fajinmi’s persistent attack on the union is for a purpose to cover up. Others involved in the disruption of the congress were Dr. Abrifor, C. A., Mr. Banji Olaleye and Mr. Odunjo-Saka Kamal. Dr. Abrifor who later deflated the tyre of the Union vehicle has been enjoying immunity of the University’s Administration since 2017. The Administration swept a case of sexual harassment and aborted baby in the University’s hostel under the carpet which involved him, Prof. Adewole Atere and Miss Precious Azuka (100 level student of the University and a minor) according to the publication in the Guardian newspaper of 13th December, 2018.
Finally, the union calls on the Honourable Minister of Education, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, relevant agencies of the government, Civil Society organizations and general public to call the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Soremekun to order, and stop the victimization of our members in general. We also use this opportunity to reiterate our earlier call on the Government of Nigeria to send a visitation panel to the Federal University Oye-Ekiti with dispatch.
Thank you.
Prof. Olu Olufayo
Zonal Coordinator, ASUU, Akure Zone
& Chairperson, ASUU EKSU
Dr. M.O. Oniya
Chairperson, ASUU FUTA
Dr. A.O. Egbedokun
Chairperson, ASUU OAU
Dr. A.G. Omonijo
Chairperson, ASUU FUOYE
