Lecturers at the Osun state Polytechnic, Iree, on Tuesday, protested against the suspension of the institution’s Rector, Dr. Tajudeen Odetayo.
It will be recalled 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 .
It was apparent that this didn’t go down very well with lecturers at the institution.
‘The governor appointed someone who is not qualified as the acting Rector of the institution. The person that the governor appointed contested the post of deputy rector and lost out.
We have a deputy rector who should replace the rector if he is removed. That is what the guidelines say, and in the absence of the deputy rector, the most senior chief lecturer will be appointed as acting Rector.
The person that was appointed in ranking among the chief lecturers, he is not ranked from one to 50’ chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Ospoly , Iree, Mr. Fatai Afolabi said.
‘The person that was appointed as acting Rector had contested the post of Deputy Rector and he lost. Dr Odetayo, who was removed was accused of corruption among others. He was never made to face any panel of enquiry; he was never issued a query. The main reason for his removal was that he was invited and instructed to make the person they appointed as acting Rector now, the deputy rector.
The order given to the Rector goes beyond his capacity because it is by election. When they voted, the government’s anointed candidate got 19 votes, while the winner, who is the most senior chief lecturer on campus got 51 votes. The state of things in Iree now is that all academic activities including the ongoing exam stand suspended’ he added.
Governor Ademola Adeleke has urged calm while promising to look into the matter at issue.
Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com on Tuesday noted that a Governing Board will soon be put in place to take over the matter and investigate the allegations that had resulted in Dr Odetayo’s suspension.
‘The attention of the Executive Governor of Osun state, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has been drawn to the protests by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP , Osun state Polytechnic, OSPOLY, Iree chapter , over the suspension of the Rector, Dr Tajudeen Adewale Odetayo.
The governor ,who is concerned about the development recorded today, urges all to remain calm and end the protest which had led to closure of the school gate, thereby disrupting the ongoing examination at the institution.
The governor assures the ASUP and the students at the institution that the matter will be looked into, and necessary measures taken.
OSPOLY Governing Board will soon be put in place to take over the matter and investigate the allegation that had led to the suspension and take appropriate action as soon as possible.
I understand the reason for the protest over the suspension of the Rector, Dr Tajudeen Adewale Adetayo. The step taken by the administration is necessary, but I assure you that full investigation will commence and every misunderstanding will be cleared.
I recognize the ASUP and I urge them to stop the protest, and allow investigation to hold for the matter to be sorted out. Please do not allow yourself to be used by the opposition. You are important to the Government and the public. Please stop the protest and allow peace to be restored to the school community’ the statement said-Team@orientactualmags.com
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