Ekiti Poly staff demand Rector”s removal over alleged fraud

Staff of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, in Ekiti state, have called on the federal government to remove the Rector of the institution, Mrs. Theresa Akande from office for alleged fraud, high-handedness and budget padding. During a protest where the demand was made, the protesting staff comprising members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics […]

Staff of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, in Ekiti state, have called on the federal government to remove the Rector of the institution, Mrs. Theresa Akande from office for alleged fraud, high-handedness and budget padding.

During a protest where the demand was made, the protesting staff comprising members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) also called for a panel to investigate the financial records of the institution.

The workers, who had been on  strike since October 10, 2016  over allegations bothering on embezzlement, high-handedness, brandished leaves and sang anti-Akande songs, threatening not to go back to work until Akande is removed.

They also disrupted a seminar for Agric services providers organized by Amphi-tractor Academy in the institution as well as hindered vehicular movement along Ado-Ijan-Ikare road for several hours.

But the Rector in her reaction described the allegations against her as frivolous, saying that she had not breached any law to warrant resignation or removal adding that she stopped payment of  CONTISS 15 and 50 % cooperative deduction, because  they have no financial backing  to implement such.

The protesting staff of Federal Poly, Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday.

The workers were led by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Mr.  Tunji Owoeye and chairman of Senior Staff Association Nigeria Polytechnics(SSANIP), Dr Oluwole Ayeni.

Addressing journalists  during the protest, the  ASUP and SSANIP Chairmen, said they have written to President Muhammadu Buhari and other top government functionaries, as well as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate the fraud allegations levelled against Dr. Akande.

“The Rector and his management team has been employing people on CONTISS 8 and paying them with CONTISS 7. Some were also employed as Principal Lecturers and were being paid as Lecturer 3. The Rector and her team also padded the 2016 budget and we had provided evidence in this regard. Our N131 million is still trapped in the cooperatives.

“We want the FG to set up investigative panel  on all these allegations and when they come, all those concerned must step aside in the interest of fairness.  Rather than fighting corruption, corruption is fighting us in this polytechnic.

“If she is sacked, we are ready to sit down with whoever is appointed to address all these matters, failure to do this, we will collapse the entire system and we will remain like this”, they said.

In her defense, Akande said the aggrieved workers wanted her out for selfish desires, denying allegation that she employed members of her family into key positions in the institution.

"I had always deferred to all the unions in taking critical decisions. In fact, I regret starting CONTISS 15 for 14 months here even when government has not approved money for it.

“I have the highest records of workers’ promotion in history and all the budgetary provisions to us like the capital, personnel and overhead costs are fixed and cannot be padded by anybody, so the allegation of budget padding is ridiculous and sad. No Rector can pad the budget of any polytechnic.

“Some people are after me and they want me out at all costs. I won’t resign based on threat from workers. If Mr President said I should leave today, then I will bow out”, she said.