– says management trying cover-up
By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
Workers of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti have raised alarm over alleged plan by management of the institution to cover up an alleged case of fraud amounting to billions of naira recorded at the information communication technology, ICT unit of the university.
This allegation is one of the key resolutions reached during a joint congress involving National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Non-Academic Staff Unions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) held within the the university premises.
The congress, which was presided over by the leadership of the Joint Action Committee comprising the three mentioned unions, had, in attendance, large number of members who were all chanting solidarity songs and lamenting how bad things had become in the university, particularly in recent times.
The communiqué, which was signed by chairmen and secretaries of NAAT, NASU and SSANU, alleged that, despite all cries, the university management had continued to keep mum on the issue due to those involved, whom the union leaders alleged were loyalists of those in the positions of authority in the university.
Among the signatories are, Comr. Azeez Aguda, SSANU chairman Comr. Mary Adeosun NAAT chairman and Comr. Sunday Olajutemu, NASU caretaker chairman.
The statement reads: “Despite repeated demands to make the reports of the three committees on the fraud public and recovery of the EKSU money, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Edward Olanipekun and the Governing Council led by Prof. Bamitale Omole have continued to maintain silence apparently due to their vested interests in the matter, which is at inimical to the stability, development and sustainability of the University.
“Rather than recover the huge money stollen through the ICT/Portal unit, the Governing Council and the University management have continued to plunge EKSU into avoidable legal debts by going on a wild goose chase in appealing the industrial court judgment to reinstate our disengaged members.
The unions also lamented the non-remittance of cooperative and pension dues by the management to the appropriate quarters saying such step had subjected workers to hardship and hampered them from accessing necessary benefits from the organizations.
“Since the inception of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), successive administrations have refused to remit deducted funds to the individual Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).
The Prof. Edward Olanipekun-led administration has continued to indulge in this illegal practice despite persistent demand from the unions that he should obey the law of the land.
“The withholding of the dues deductions is not only criminal but also denying the contributors decent retirement life.
Other resolutions by the workers are the need for immediate payment of the three months outstanding 2018 salaries, payment of arrears of amputated salaries as well as other allowances.
According to them, the resolutions have been communicated to the vice chancellor, Professor, Edward Olanipekun for his response.
When contacted, spokesperson for the university, Mr Bode Olofinmuagun, admitted that every worker had the right to their grievances and that the university would react appropriately to all the allegations raised by the union leaders.