ERC CONDEMNS FUTA GOVERNING COUNCIL’S RECALL OF IMMEDIATE PAST VC, PROF. DARAMOLA DESPITE HIS SUSPENSION BY THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION



Demands unbiased probe into the Prof. Daramola-led administration and payment of workers salary arrears

The Education Rights Campaign (ERC) congratulates the members of the NASU, SSANU, and NAAT, organized under the Joint Action Committee (JAC), and the entire FUTA community on their recent victory where the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Prof. Biyi Daramola and Bursar of the institution were suspended by the Minister of Education.

At the same time, the ERC condemns the fraudulent and criminal act of the University management who has refused to pay the salaries and allowances of the members of the NASU, SSANU, and NAAT because of their protest. Despite the agreement and verdict of the court that all allowances should be paid not later than 24 hours after the suspension of the protest and resuming back into offices of the staff union, the cruel management has refused to pay up even after 7 days of resumption.

It should be recalled that the members of the JAC embarked on a protest since the 6th day of October 2016, demanding the suspension of the immediate past VC, Prof. Biyi Daramola and Bursar who were under probe by the EFCC and the dissolution of the FUTA Governing Council, among other demands.

However this victory is under threat as the University Governing Council has speedily recalled Prof. Biyi Daramola, whose tenure as Vice Chancellor has elapsed and in the same vein appointed a new Vice Chancellor. The ERC in strong terms condemn these actions taken by the University’s Governing Council which are meant to cover up the allegation of corruption and undermine the campaign of workers of the University for an unbiased probe of the Prof. Biyi Daramola-led university administration.

According to the extant rule governing all public office holders, the immediate past VC, ‘Biyi Daramola, and the Bursar, Emmanuel Oresegun, of the institution should have been placed under an indefinite suspension since October 4, 2016, when they were summoned by the EFCC to answer queries as regards the financial misappropriation allegations filed against the duo. The non-implementation of this rule greatly affected the smooth running of the institution as the members of the JAC refused to discharge their duties.

No doubt, the absence of the activities of the staff unions has crippled the running of the institution. Only a few practical classes were organized; of course, only those that can be handled by the teaching staff. This, undoubtedly, should not exist in a Federal University of Technology whose background is based on practice and practical classes.

After a consistent and relentless 7-month protest of the JAC, the Minister of Education was forced into action by placing the VC, less than 20 days to the expiration of his tenure, and the bursar under suspension. Although this can be regarded as a victory on the part of the workers’ union, the long delay before the education minister took action is a concrete example of one of the lapses of the Buhari-led federal government who claimed to be fighting corruption.

Nevertheless, it is noteworthy to state that the 7-month protest of the JAC that forced the Minister of Education to suspend the VC and Bursar is neither enough to totally eliminate corruption nor to restore sanity to the institution. Hence, the workers union needs to return to the drawing table in order to plan a more effective action to pressurize and compel an unbiased probe of the Daramola’s led administration. This type of plan should involve a national day of action coupled with mass rallies and public mass-actions.

Furthermore, the demands of the workers union should be extended to, not only the suspension of the corrupt management officials but also the recovery of all looted funds. Since these funds, if recovered, will be to the benefit of the whole FUTA community, there is a need for students and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to stand in solidarity with the JAC.

Given the foregoing, it is imperative to state that it is now essential for the staff union not to relent but begin the process of planning a more elaborate, holistic, comprehensive, and effective mass actions to compel the meeting of every of the demands of the union.

Such demands should be aimed towards the commencement of a democratic running of FUTA whereby both staff and students of the institution will be key factors in the decision-making organ of the institution. We also call on the new leadership of the students union to play an important role towards the mobilization for the eradication of corruption and the democratic running of the institution, not only in FUTA but also in other tertiary institutions across the country. Where University administrators pilfer or mismanage funds, the first victims are students who will continue to lack the adequate facilities required for quality education. Therefore it is vital that students unite with staff unions in joint struggle.

While we continue to demand for a better standard of living under this government, it is equally imperative for the labour movement to start building an alternative mass workers party to fight for political power and enthrone a democratic socialist system of government which will serve as a permanent long-lasting solution to the fundamental problems facing education sector and society as a whole. It is until the commanding heights of the economy are placed under the democratic control and management of the working masses that such a problem of fraud and corruption can be permanently eradicated.

Owoyomi Damilola Owot

Ondo State ERC Coordinator

07065184322

Erc_ondo@yahoo.com

Source: http://ercondo.com/erc-condemns-the-recall-of-futa-vc-despite-suspension-by-the-minister/