Osun state government on Thursday announced a 2-week break for workers and students at the state polytechnic, Iree.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Education, Hon Dipo Eluwole, in a short statement issued in Osogbo, the state capital, he noted that this was done to ensure that nothing goes wrong following a potentially explosive situation.
‘This is to inform the general public, particularly members of staff and students at the Osun state Polytechnic, Iree, that a two -week break has been announced for them with immediate effect.
This is a necessary action to maintain peace in the institution following the forceful return of the suspended Rector, Dr. T.A. Odetayo.
The general public should also note that the polytechnic’s bank accounts have been frozen with immediate effect, and it is imperative that everyone cooperates fully and adheres to these directives’ the statement said.
Recall that Odetayo, who was appointed as Rector in March this year, had his suspension made known via a letter signed by Mr. A. Jimoh, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education.
‘You are hereby suspended as Rector of Osun state Polytechnic, sequel to the strong allegations of financial recklessness, corruption, misappropriation of funds, abuse of office among others.
You are to proceed on suspension immediately, while investigation into the allegations leveled against you commences soon’ Mr. A. Jimoh had submitted in the letter in question which was dated July 11, 2023.
Dr Tajudeen Odetayo , who was the Deputy Rector, was appointed as acting Rector by former governor Gboyega Oyetola in June 2022, though his appointment was initially annulled by the Adeleke administration a letter by the state Head of Service, Mr Leye Aina however reappointed him for a four-year tenure on March 10, 2023.
Sequel to Dr Tajudeen Odetayo’s suspension , the state government had announced the appointment of Mr. Kehinde Alabi, as acting Rector .
‘Yes, it is true that a two-week break has been announced for the students and staff of Osun state Polytechnic, Iree, and we commend the state government for the prompt action taken following the tense atmosphere that was recorded on Thursday’ Dr Tope Abiola, who is the spokesman for the polytechnic , also told Team@orientactualmags.com on Thursday while shedding some light on the role played by the state government.
‘Dr Odetayo , the former acting Rector was accused of financial impropriety and abuse of office and he was queried by the state government , he responded to the query however the government was not satisfied with his response and he was suspended as acting Rector . A panel of enquiry was set up by the state government and before the panel could conclude its assignment, Dr Odetayo had taken a legal action by instituting a lawsuit and asking the Industrial Court to grant an exparte motion that the status quo should be maintained until the determination of the suit by the court and the governor in deference to the court injunction did not appoint a substantive Rector but only named a replacement in acting capacity since someone must be in charge of the affairs of the institution.
However, the Ode Omu-born accountant invaded the institution today with a team of security men and others and this led to a tense atmosphere, people had to scamper for safety, registry staff, bursary staff immediately vacated their offices and sought safety under the trees while lecturers could not also attend lectures and this caused a tense situation perhaps this was why the state government came up with the idea of the two-week break for students and annual leave for workers and this is quite commendable.
The governor is the visitor to the institution and anybody who is officially appointed as acting rector by the governor should be recognized as such while any self-proclaimed Rector is on his or her own’ he added.
Abiola also quoted the acting Rector as urging calm and peace while asserting that Governor Ademola Adeleke ‘is on top of the situation’ and would ensure security of lives and property at the institution.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the polytechnic’s chapter of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has split into two factions.
Mr. Ezekiel Alabi, who has been accused of instigating violence at the institution by the opposing camp, is leading one of the factions while the second faction is headed by a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Vocational Studies .
Sources said about seventy percent of lecturers at the polytechnic have somewhat withdrawn their membership by directing the Bursar not to henceforth deduct their check off dues and pay such into the bank account of ASUP , it was also learned that the bank account of the union has been frozen in order to allow peace to reign and prevent misuse of funds by the former exco that had been declared dissolved by a faction of the union .
In the meanwhile, some concerned members of academic staff ,who were not in support of the suspended acting Rector, are equally set to challenge his appointment, noting that the state government had taken a wrong step abinitio by appointing him as acting Rector- Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you
