Workers of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere Ekiti (BOUESTI) have called for probe of Vice Chancellor of the institution and the Bursar Prof. Olufemi Adeoluwa and Mr Babatunde Apata, respectively over financial misappropriation.
The workers have sent the letter to Governor Biodun Oyebanji to take urgent step. In a petition by
the staff under the aegis of Ekiti Truth Club, in a petition dated 17th October, 2023, a copy which was made available to Journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, alledged the Vice Chancellor and the Bursar of financial recklessness, high handedness the move which they alledged to have made the e situation of the University grown from bad to worse.
In the 24-paragraph petition, alledged the University helmsmen of heavy financial improprieties and called for immediate probe of the management of the Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) and the government monthly grants to the University between 2nd of June, 2022 to date.
They equally urged the Governor as a matter of urgency to constitute a panel to carry out the forensic audit of the school in order to ascertain the gravity of financial mess of the management of the institution.
According to the staff, apart from financial recklessness levied against the Vice Chancellor and the Bursar, other allegations were, alledged blackmail of the present administration in Ekiti State of reducing and delay of the monthly subvention to the school.
Proscription of all staff unions in the school and ensure that they were powerless and limited freedom apparently to further mismanaged the University meagre resources.
Other allegations levied against the Vice Chancellor were intentionally and wickedly owed the workers thirty months salaries and 2018 and 2019 promotions and arrears, the move which has made them irresponsible in their various homes.
He was also alledged to have successfully allocated twenty million naira for himself to attend a conference of Vice Chancellors in Qatar, UAE, the move which they described as part of the Vice Chancellor’s recklessness and insensitivity to staff wellbeing and fragrant disregard to staff welfare.
The Bursar was also alledged to have used his office to syphoned the meagre resources of the University in the guise of payment to some unknown individuals at the Tetfund office, Abuja, similarly, awarding of contracts without following due process and running the University like a personal property among other allegations.
Giving of irregular and needles appointments at the expense of staff welfare, so as employment of some of their cronies who doesn’t has lecturer and teaching experiences in the University system prior to their appointments.
“It is shocking that the University is still battling with unpaid salaries despite the fact that the school has recorded a significant financial improvement in the last two year of its elevation from College of Education to a full fledged University. The University that made over one billion naira in just one session”
Lamenting over what the staff called alledged looting by the University helmsmen, they explained that the lacuna created by the absence of Governing Council for the University between 2nd June and 25th April 2023 was a period of unlimited freedom for the Vice Chancellor and his cohort to carry out his alledged fraudulent acts.
The period which they said has left the Ivory Tower in a sorry state, as looting was unabated, during this period , the duo were alledged to have build a multi million naira building for themselves.
The staff lamented over what they called lack of development in the institution, however called on the Governor to intervene in the matter.
When contacted for his reactions, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Olufemi Adeoluwa, did not pick his call, all text messages sent to his telephone was not responded to.
But the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr Temitope Akinbosoye, described the allegations as baseless and written by dubious personalities.
He said the institution will react to the allegations at appropriate time, he however urged Journalists to desist from yellow journalism.