IBADAN – The absence of the Governing Council that ought have been overseeing the activities of Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa may lead to tension in the institution.
Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa, one of the three Oyo state owned Polytechnics became autonomous about eight years during the days of Late Abola Ajimobi as Governor of Oyo State. It said to be one of the satellite campuses of then The Polytechnic, Ibadan.
An inside source revealed that apart from the disgruntlement among individual staff members, the three unions within the institution may be gearing up for a showdown with the government of the day in the state over what they termed “seeming indifference” of the powers that be on the constitution of a Governing Council for the school.
It was gathered that a Governing Council was actually put in place by Governor Seyi Makinde, it was headed by Igboora born Professor of Education, Abiodun Ojo, who died about five months ago.
Abiodun Ojo, elder brother of Ademola Ojo, the serving Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy matters in Oyo state was of Tai Solarin University of Education and was on sabbatical at University of Education, Oyo until his death.
After the death of the Governing Council chairman, the council became non functional. It was discovered that the council could not even hold any statutory meetings talkless of providing direction, formulating policies and stamping decisions as stipulated by the books.
One of the biggest casualties of the death of the former Council chairman and non functionality of the remaining team is the abrupt stoppage of processes leading to the installation of substantive management for the school.
Advertisement for applications from interested men and women was placed twice, responses received, names shortlisted and interviews conducted.
It was the last day of the interviews when applicants for the position of the Rector were to be screened that the exercise was suspended because of the inability of the Late council chairman to make it to the school premises that particular Friday morning. He was rushed out of his hotel room to the hospital that day and did not return alive.
This development was generating concerns within and without the school. It was discovered that those interested in these positions remain apprehensive, wondering why an indefinite hold is put on the almost completed process.
For the positions of Registrar and Bursar, it was reliably gathered that likely successful candidates may have been picked.From within, the feeling in some quarters was that why would the government allow the smooth process “die” with the former chairman and allow the school live with a reputation of “acting management” for going to four years. This , they claimed was clearly against the rule set by the regulatory body, National Board on Technical Education.
Another reason gathered for generating tension within the school was the “undue” advantage the absence of the Governing Council had given the Acting management under Dr. Gbade Akinteye. The team has been in charge for going to four years, an unprecedented development in the history of the school.
The NBTE directive allows for a maximum of 12 months acting management, first six months and additional six months, within which a substantive management should have emerged.
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This scenario has sharply divided the workforce into camps, those benefitting from the reigning arrangement, those pushing for “what” is right and those longing to have a say and share in the institution”s card.
A substantive management has a single term of five years. A careful examination of the system also exposed another reason for the agitation for the constitution of the Council, some members of staff who should be converted from a cadre to another in the last promotion exercise did not enjoy the privilege “because the seal placed on the process by the council could only be lifted by the council.”
Not only the above listed reasons are responsible for the pressure within Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa, the salary increment of 25/35 percentage approved for all Polytechnics could only be enjoyed for a month in the school, it was said to have stopped because only the council could push for it’s stay. It was gathered that not even the Commissioner for Education in the State, Prof. Waheed Adelabu was ready to stick out his neck on the matter.
While all may appear cool and calm from the outside, tension keeps building, temper continues to rise and the bubble appears set to burst any time soon.
The Dean’s of the four faculties in the school are also not left out of the agitation, their quest for a better entitlements for the offices they hold which was also on the table of the Governing Council was also stalled.
In separate interviews with the chairmen of the three unions within the school, they all agreed that uneasy calm pervades the school.
According to the chairman of the Academic staff union of the school, Engr. Taiwo Adegoke, the intensity of the pressure on the union leaders was becoming unmanageable. “Our members are pushing for all manners of approach to ensure the government puts the council in place without any further delay.
We appreciate the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde for his wonderful support so far, however, we need to urge him to stave off the impending trouble hanging over the school.” Adeboje submitted.
In his own reaction, Mr Titiloye Joseph, Chairman of the Senior Staff Association, described the continuous delay in the composition of the council as an avoidable distraction, “we have other members of the council around, the Governor could pick one of them or appoint just one person from outside to fill the position of the chairman, We hope he heeds our cry in no time.”
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On his part, Chairman of the Non Academic members of staff, Mr Titus Jayeola believed that the best thing that could happen to the school now is to have a functional Governing Council.