Panel Report On Nigerian Federal University Oye-Ekiti Uncovers Alleged Mismanagement, Irregularities Under Former VC
Panel Report On Nigerian Federal University Oye-Ekiti Uncovers Alleged Mismanagement, Irregularities Under Former VC
The panel described Professor Soremekun’s actions as lacking adherence to established disciplinary procedures.
Agovernment visitation panel investigating the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) for the period 2016 to 2020 uncovered instances of mismanagement, unmerited promotions, and irregularities in employment practices under the administration of former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode Soremekun
According to the panel, “There was a lot of opacity in the manner in which the finances of the University were managed. There were allegations of diversion of IGR resources, non-remittance of responsibility allowances to deserving officers, and the use of accounts in commercial banks instead of the TSA. The council is currently investigating these matters.
“While the Panel worked on its assignment, the Council of the University terminated the appointment of the Registrar (Mr Olatunbosun Sunday Emmanuel Odusanya) for reasons of administrative recklessness and a mindless illegal staff recruitment exercise exhibited/carried out between 2020 and 2021.”
Major finding and recommendation: “No white paper exists as this is the first Visitation (though 2nd report) to the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, covering what would have been the first and second Visitations.
Major Observations: In the period under review, Council had twenty (20) statutory meetings, most of them outside the University. Council appeared to have allowed the Vice-Chancellor more latitude than is healthy in the running of the University.
“The Senate had only fifteen (15) regular meetings over a five (5) year period.
There were clear violations of due process in the running of the University. There was a lot of opacity in the manner in which the finances of the University were managed.
“Between 2016 and 2020, the University had five (5) heads of the Registry, three of them occupying the position in acting capacity (1 of the 3 being a Senior Assistant Registrar prior to appointment) beyond the statutory six months. Audit queries by the External Auditors pointed to lack of responsiveness or competence in the Bursar. The number of Librarians in the library reduced from five to two during the period under review.”
“Key recommendations include that the Visitor should urgently establish a committee of experts to conduct a forensic audit of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti’s accounts.
“Additionally, the Visitor should immediately form a committee of experts to re-evaluate the credentials, productivity, and achievements of all staff employed or promoted between 2016 and 2020. This review should be based on the University’s conditions of service, with the aim of appropriately placing staff in roles they truly merit.
“Council and committees of Council should stop the practice of meeting outside the University as this is not just expensive but also against the spirit of the laws.
“The prevalent practice of appointing the Vice-Chancellor’s cronies and allies as Acting Principal Officers for a while before they morph into the substantive positions should be stopped by Council as it breeds cronyism and mediocrity.”
Meanwhile, the visitation panel is also tasked with reviewing the institution’s financial management, including statutory allocations and internally generated revenue, over the specified period to determine compliance with relevant regulations.
“Major Findings: The University received a total of N2,105,738,014.00, N3,425,733,659.00, N5,357,681,789.00, and N6,882,829,049,490.00 in the years 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively. During the same period, the University spent N3,333,701,897.00, N3,643,360,195.00, N5,409,893,453.00, and N7,004,906,595.00 in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively.
Internal audit reports were not prepared for the period under review. There were allegations of impropriety in the management of the University’s finances.”
Earlier in November, SaharaReporters reported that the National Industrial Court in Akure ordered the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), to pay N40million to Professor Niyi Akingbe, the former Acting Dean of the Faculty of Arts, for wrongful dismissal.
The court found that Akingbe’s termination in 2018 was not only unjust but also based on unfounded allegations of plagiarism.
Professor Akingbe, who had been a vocal critic of the university’s administrative practices under former Vice Chancellor Kayode Soremekun, was dismissed following a query related to plagiarism.
The court proceedings, documented under Suit No: NICN/AK/58/2018, revealed that the university failed to adhere to proper procedures outlined in the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti Act of 2015 and the relevant regulations governing senior staff service conditions.
The judge, Honourable Justice K.D. Damulak, ordered FUOYE to pay Akingbe within 30 days of this judgment; otherwise, the sum shall attract a 10% interest per annum.
