The Chapter Executive Council of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Adeyemi College of Education Chapter, Ondo at its meeting of Wednesday 16th November, 2022 deliberated extensively on the news from the social media that an Acting Provost was appointed by the College Governing Council for the legally extinct “Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo”.
In a release signed by Com. Joel Edafe, PhD
Secretary Com.Adepoju, Adetokunboh , PhD
Chairman stated that the Union is not averse to the appointment of the Acting Provost as there should not be a vacuum in any system but it frowns seriously at the silence of the College Registry, headed by the Registrar, on a matter of such great importance.
The information from the social media which is not a reliable source indicates that the Acting Provost was appointed by the Governing Council on 7th November, 2022. Contrary to this, the Union got two mails dated 9th November, 2022 one of which was signed by one Babalola, S. E. for the Director of Information and Public Relations inviting the Union to an award ceremony organized by the Association of Independent Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria where it was expressly indicated that Dr. S. A. Akintunde, the Provost of the College would be conferred with the award of a Pillar of Education in Nigeria on the 27th November, 2022.
The other was signed by one Okunniga P. A., a Deputy Registrar in the Division of Examination and Records of the College Registry with an attached invitation to the 1st Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria Induction Ceremony in the College where it was also expressly stated that Dr. Samuel Akintunde is the Provost. It brings to mind the question: can there be two Chief Executives in this institution, that is, a Provost and an Acting Provost? If that is the case, it amounts to a state of anarchy which gives room for suspicion of some clandestine activities against the appointment of the long awaited Vice Chancellor for the Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo.
Though the Union is not against the appointment of a Provost in acting capacity, the Union’s demand is the immediate appointment of a Vice Chancellor and the constitution of a Transition Implementation Committee for the immediate take-off of the new University. In the light of this, the Union congratulates Dr. Ajigbade Ikuejube on his appointment as the Acting Provost of Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo and wishes him success in this capacity.
We implore the Acting Provost to use his good offices, in conjunction with the Governing Council, to pursue vigorously at the Presidency and the Federal Ministry of Education the under listed demands of the Union:
i. immediate constitution and mobilization of the Transition Implementation Committee for Adeyemi Federal University of Education;
ii. facilitation of enabling conditions for the immediate take-off of the Adeyemi Federal University of Education; and
iii. the immediate appointment of a Vice Chancellor that has the requisite qualifications, acumen and attitude to drive a University of Education.
The Union wishes to advise the authorities concerned not to take reprehensible steps or measures that will continually perpetuate illegalities in the College, through the process of appointing a substantive provost, as this would not be a welcome development.
Aluta continua, victoria ascerta!