From Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti
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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Ekiti State Univeristy, Ado Ekiti (EKSU) has condemned the removal of the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Samuel Oye Bandele by Governor Kayode Fayemi, saying the action did not follow due process.
ASUU-EKSU Chairman, Prof Olufayo Olu-Olu said in a statement in Ado Ekiti that “the vice chancellor of EKSU was arbitrarily removed. The removal is hereby condemned in strong terms and in its entirety”.
Olu-Olu said that ASUU-EKSU congress at its meeting resolved that “In order to prevent unnecessary crisis and administrative problems, due process should be followed in the university”.
Fayemi had in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode last Tuesday removed EKSU VC alongside the Chief Medical Director of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Dr Kolawole Ogundipe and Provost of the College of Education, Ikere Ekiti, Prof Mojisola Oyarekua and announced their replacement in acting capacity.
The governor’s action followed report of the visitation panels to the institutions and approval by the State Executive Council of the White Paper on the report.
But ASUU, which said the governor lacked the powers to remove the VC, clarified that “it is the university Governing Council that has the power to remove the VC after following due process”.
It said: “The university is an autonomus institution with extant rules and governing regulations and that the appointment and removal of a VC has procedures under the laws of the university. EKSU is not and cannot be an extension of the Ministry of Education”.
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