Ekiti: BOUESTI VC At War With Staff, Workers Over Financial Recklessness, Misappropriation Of Funds 

By Falayi Olarewaju 

Workers and Staffs of Bamidele Olomilua University Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere Ekiti (BOUESTI) are presently at war with their Vice Chancellor, Professor Olufemi Adeoluwa over his financial recklessness and the misappropriation of funds meant for the Institution. 

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The Workers and Staff of the Institution made the above known to the press through a petition written to the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, alleging the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Olufemi Adeoluwa and the Bursar, Mr Babatunde Apata of several weighty allegations bordering on finances. 

The staff under the aegis of Ekiti Truth Club, in a petition dated 17th of October, 2023, a copy which was made available to Journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, alleged the Vice Chancellor and the Bursar of financial recklessness, high handedness, the move which they alleged to have made the situation of the University grown from bad to worse.

In the 24-paragraph petition, they alleged 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.

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According to the staff, apart from financial recklessness levied against the Vice Chancellor and the Bursar, other allegations were, alleged blackmail of the present administration in Ekiti State of reducing and delaying the monthly subvention to the Instruction.

Continuing, they accused the VC and Bursar of proscribing the Staff Unions in the Institution thereby ensuring that they were powerless and their freedom limited, apparently to further mismanaged the University meagre resources.

Other allegations levied against the Vice Chancellor was that, he intentionally and wickedly owed the workers thirty months of amputated salaries as well as the 2018 and 2019 promotions and arrears, the move which has made them irresponsible in their various homes.

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He was also alleged 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 alleged to have used his office to siphoned the meagre resources of the University in the guise of paying some unknown individuals at the Tetfund office in Abuja.

Similarly, he was accused of awarding contracts without following due process and running the University like a personal property among other allegations.

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Other allegations levelled against him was the irregular and needless appointments at the expense of staff welfare, thereby giving employment to some of his cronies who doesn’t have any teaching or lecturing 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 Institution 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 alleged 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 alleged fraudulent acts.

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The period which they said has left the the Ivory Tower in a sorry state, as looting was unabated, during this period the duo was alleged 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, Professor Olufemi Adeoluwa, did not pick his call, all text messages sent to his telephone did not respond.

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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.

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