The Senate Committee on Ethics and Discpline, chaired by Senator Ayo Akinyelure of Ondo Federal Constituency, on Monday cleared air on the termination of appointment of the esthwhile Registrar of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Mr. Olatunbosun Odusanya.

Following the termination of his appointment by the Governing Council of FUOYE, Odusanya had petitioned the Senate alleging that his sack did not follow due process.

Consequently, the Senate Committee on Ethics and Discpline invited the Governing Council and the Management of FUOYE as well as the petitioner in order to arbitrate on the matter.

A statement by the Special Adviser on Media Matters to the Vice-Chancellor, (VC) FUOYE, Wole Balogun, which was made available to newsmen on Wednesday, disclosed that the five man Committee of the Senate in session held at the Senate building in Abuja on Monday, June 7, listened to comments by the petitioner, and the Respondents, who were the Chairman of FUOYE Governing Council, Dr. Mohammed Yahuza and FUOYE VC, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina.

While Odusanya alleged that his sack did not follow due process, and urged the Senate to appeal to FUOYE’s Governing Council to allow him to get his job back, Dr. Yahuza explained that the termination of the appointment of the Ex-Registrar was done in strict adherence to due process as laid down by the University Regulations on appointment and disciplinary measures for principal officers.

The FUOYE Council chairman, who disclosed that he has a good knowledge of the regulations guiding the procedures for the appointment and termination of appointment of Federal civil servants, having served for 35 years in the Federal civil service before retiring as Director of Administration as well as serving at several.administrative capacities at the Federal level. He assured that he would be the last person to truncate due process in such matters.

Dr. Yahuza justified Odusanya’s sack, saying that the esthwhile Registrar had committed several infractions which earned him the termination of his appointment. Dr. Yahuza said: “I had served for 35 years in the federal civil service and retired as a Director of Administration. I have also served the Federal government in several administrative capacities after retirement. I am the last person to truncate due process in dealing with the discipline of a principal officer in a federal Institution such as FUOYE.

“Prior to the events that culminated into the termination of the appointment of the embattled former Registrar of FUOYE, I had four reconciliatory meetings with the other members of the Management and the former Registrar to discuss the possibility of an harmonious working relationship. But unfortunately it didn’t work out.

“Odusanya committed several serious infractions in three areas which were the Public Service Rules, Section 10 to 12 of University Rules concerning staff recruitment and the Federal Character Commission Establishment Act and we had to strictly follow the University Regulations to deal with his case,” he said.

While making his clarification on the matter, the VC, in his submission, stated clearly that he was not involved in any way in the sack of the embattled ex-Registrar.
He cited some of the specific infractions committed by the esthwhile Registrar to include illegal appointment of 337 staff members, appointment of a 64 year old man as Senior Lecturer, appointment of a staff whose appointment had been terminated from a previous Institution and failure to follow due process in several appointments, among others.

The Senate Committee however, appealed to FUOYE Council chairman to find a way to grant a soft landing for the embattled Odusanya as a way of finally resolving the matter. Dr. Yahuza acceded to the appeal but said it would be subjected to an appeal in that direction by the embattled ex-Registrar and an urgent fulfilment of certain conditions as would be dictated by the FUOYE Governing Council.

Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina has sought for more support from the Executive Governor of Ekiti State and chairman, Nigeria’s Governors’Forum, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi to cater for more welfare packages for the University staff members and students.

The step is part of the VC’s relentless efforts towards ensuring that FUOYE staff members and students get the best of welfare packages for their well being.

A statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday from the media office of the VC, and signed by Special Adviser on Media Matters to the VC, Wole Balogun, disclosed that Prof. Fasina in a meeting with Governor Fayemi on Tuesday afternoon, appealed to the state governor to assist FUOYE with more shuttle buses in addition to the 50-seater bus currently in use for subsidized transportation scheme for the staff members.

Balogun’s statement qouted the VC, in his address to the governor, as saying: “The visitation panel came with us to pay homage to the governor. Governor Fayemi has been extremely good to the University for the past years. He tarred the road in our campus and has done several other things to assist the University.

“I have introduced some welfare packages for the staff and students, one of which was a bus for subsidized transport system. The staff members are very happy about this and all of them want to enjoy it. So we need your assistance for more buses. I have brought a letter of appeal in this respect. The campus is stabilized now and there is peace.”

The S.A:s statement further disclosed that a team of the Federal Government visitation panel to FUOYE, led by Prof. Ejike Chukwunonso, were also part of the VC’s entourage that visited Governor Fayemi.

It qoutes Prof. Ejike, in his address to the governor, as saying : “The visitor to all the Federal Universities, President Mohammed Buhari, has constituted the visitation penels. Our task is to visit all the universities and find out how well they are faring in administration and other areas, and get the feedback to the President so that he would know in which areas he should assist. FUOYE is very dear to the President. We are happy to be here and grateful for the warm reception from His Excellency. We are almost through with the assignment and will soon submit report..”

Governor Fayemi in his address, warmly received the VC and his entourage, he also gave his candid advice to both the University Management and the Visitation panel.

The VC’ media aide’s statement qoutes Governor Fayemi,l as saying: “You have been here for sometime and been undertaking the assignment given to you by the Visitor. From what you must have seen, this is a very peaceful state and we are known for our passion for education. We see ourselves as the intellectual capital of Nigeria. And we have lived up to that reputation.

“We were delighted when the then President Goodluck Jonathan decided to create more federal Universities. I was the the governor of this state then when FUOYE came and I was instrumental to the location of the University.

“The University has done so well since inception. It has grown in leaps and bounds, a kind of growth that has been meteroic. It is the Federal Ministry of Education and the NASS that is delaying its renaming to the Adeyinka Adebayo University. The presidency has done its part in that regard.

” It is appropriate to have this periodic visitations. I had done such visitations to our local University before and it paid off. We believe as Ekiti people that the University must pay its due not just to Nigerians, but to Ekiti State.

“The policy of not having indigenes holding very key positions in the Federal University has since changed. We regard Prof. Fasina as our local man because he married from Ekiti. Our people still want more, they want their son or daughter to be the VC of the institution or be one of the very key principal officers.

“This is not to subvert merit or to promote neptoism. We have very many qualified sons and daughters for the key University positions in the state. There is a very strong current that the University is not really localized in this regard.

“In my opinion, I think the University should make haste slowly; it is good that all the faculties have begun. These are areas you should look into in localizing the University. Do not sacrifice quality for proliferation.

“Also, let the catchment area policy of Universities privilege Ekiti. Prof. Fasina is very determined and will really do well. He should make haste slowly. The Governing Council of the University should learn from the past mistakes to make things better in future official businesses. This is our Unuversity and since education is our passion, we will do all we can to assist the growth and development of the institution.”

On the team of the Governor were the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Biodun Oyebamiji, Commissioner for Education, Dr. (Mrs.) Aderiye, S.A to the governor, Mr. Folusho, and his private Secretary, who received the VC’s team.

While the Visitation panel members included Prof. Ejike Chukwunonso from Alex Ekwueme University, Mrs. Mercy Foluso Kolego, Prof. Ezenwa N, Dr. Mohammed Jawal, Malam Ibrahim Dangiya, Engr. Adamu Yakassai who are all retired Directors from the Federal parastatals, the FUOYE Management team comprising Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Adminstration, Prof. Olusola Omotola, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, Prof. Olusola Ojo, Acting Registrar, Mr. Mufutau Ibrahim, University Librarian, Dr. Isaac Busayo , Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Adeyinka Ademuyiwa and other officials at the VC’s office were on the team of the VC for the visitation.

The Loyola College Ibadan Old Boys Association (LOCOBA) has promised to do all it can to push its alma mater up the ladder of excellence amongst its peers.

This was said by the National President of the association, Prof. Olufemi Ogunbiyi during the Change of Leadership event held in Ibadan on Saturday.

Ogunbiyi while giving his remarks noted that the importance of old school associations in the society cannot be over-emphasized, as it is one major avenue citizens give back to the society through their alma mater.

He disclosed that this is the testimony in Loyola College Ibadan as its old boys through LOCOBA have established rewarding partnership with the school.

” Old school associations are thriving. Many have risen to close yawning gaps occasioned by shortfalls in public funding. Citizens are building on legacies of values imbibed from their school days. They are giving back to society especially through their alma mater. LOCOBA is not wanting on this score.

“Sets and individuals have invested in the school, renovating classroom blocks, equipping and furnishing laboratories, classrooms and the libraries. Old boys have helped by providing academic texts and journals that bring current school boys to be at par with their peers in other parts of the world” , Ogunbiyi remarked

Establishing the fact that LOCOBA is blessed with professionals who are successful in their various fields, the president said it is time to for the association to increase and improve its support for the school.

He therefore called on all old boys within Nigeria and outside to join hands with the newly inaugurated executives in which he leads, to ensure that Loyola College Ibadan sets the pace in Oyo state and in Nigeria.
He further identified the need for cooperation and support from the Oyo State government and the Catholic Church as proprietor for the success of planned interventions.

“The school is blessed with old boys who making their mark in various fields of endeavor. Some return for the annual reunion, others unable to convene hold on to fond thoughts of their time in the school. There is no shortage of ideas of how to improve the school.

“LOCOBA is determined to see the school remains the Best in Every Way. This is why the new executives need the support of all LOCOBA members worldwide, the school management, the state government and the Catholic mission to achieve this feat.”, He said.

Earlier, during a Courtesy Visit of the LOCOBA executives to the School for tour of ongoing projects and meeting with the Principals and staff of the school, the principals of the junior school, Mrs Fatima Oyenike Okunola and the senior school, Mr Akin Akinade expressed great appreciation to the old boys for not relenting in executing projects.

Mr Akinade lauded the 1981 set for the major renovation of the school’s football field.

Mrs Okunola during her address enumerated several other projects that can be latched on to improve the social life, academics and welfare of the students.