Ede Poly: We will not resume teaching unless issues are resolved – ASUP
Issues baseless, will be resolved – Rector
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, Federal Polytechnic Ede chapter has stated that its members will not be resuming for academic activities after the lockdown if all the crisis rocking the institution are not resolved.
The Chairman of ASUP, Mr Nurudeen Masopa stated this on Friday while addressing Journalists on the state of affairs in the institution.
It would be recalled that the union had during a press conference on Wednesday accused the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr John Taiwo Adekolawole of high-handedness, abuse of office, among other allegations.
Speaking on Friday, Masopa, who was flanked by some executive members of the union, insisted that the Rector must be suspended, so that the allegations against him will be investigated duly.
He said, “before the lockdown, we were at a point where we were agitating some benefits for our union, and now we have these ones. We’re not going to resume teaching unless these allegations are investigated thoroughly.
“Dr Adekolawole will destroy the school if not checked as soon as possible and we’re happy that anti-graft agencies are looking into it.
“The lives of over 15,000 students of this Institution must not be jeopardized because of the maladministration of the Rector.”
When asked how he (Masopa) managed the TETFUND grant given to him for his Doctorate Degree, the ASUP chairperson said the allegations of misappropriation of TETFUND grant leveled him was “just a way of calling a dog bad name to roast it.”
He, however, admitted that his PhD studies at the University of Ilorin hit a wall in the year 2018, due to supervision issues, adding that he had paid tuition fees four times before everything got disstabilized.
“They are just using that as a way of nailing me, which is not going to be realistic. I can’t be silenced. Truly, I received TETFUND grant to undergo PhD programme at the University of Ilorin but I had problem with supervision to the extent that I had to engage the service of a lawyer to write the institution after several attempt to resolve the matter failed.
“TETFUND grant covers two years and I had paid for four seasons without result. So, in 2018, I decided to leave UNILORIN be and seek Admission somewhere else.” Masopa said.
He said he’s still seeking admission and will soon resume for his PhD Programme in another Institution.
In his reaction, the Rector said all the allegations against him by the academic union are baseless and he had been absolved of many in the past.
He said National Board of Technical Education, NBTE, is looking into the matter and they are billed to appear on Wednesday, September 16.
Speaking on the wayforward, Adekolawole said he is still open to option of round table dialogue with aggrieved members.
“The Governing Council had in January and February this year absolved me of any wrongdoing. I wonder why the petitioner is still taking the same petition around. The NBTE has invited us and we will be there by Wednesday.
“The matter will be resolved before the students get back to campus. I can assure you of that. All issues of misappropriations of funds are just in the figment of the accusers.” Adekolawole said.