By Stellamaris Ashinze
Lagos – The Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Ijanikin chapter has expressed mixed feelings over the governing council’s verdict on some senior staff of the college accused of gross misconduct.
The Chairman of COEASU, Mr Micheal Avosentinyenon on Wednesday told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that some of the punishments were not commensurate to the offences committed.
NAN reports that the Governing Council of the institution had on August 10, given various degree of punishment to principal officers of the college.The punishment ranged from demotion, termination of appointment and dismissal among others.The principal officers were accused of embezzlement of college funds, while a senior lecturer was accused of plagiarism and another rape.According to him, even if the union is dissatisfied with the decision of the governing council; it has acted within the conditions of service of the college.
The chairman said that the union had in their capacity presented the principal officers to the governing council.He said that the governing council in their wisdom allowed the principal officers to refund a meager amount compared to the money embezzled.“The union had made frantic effort and presented the issue before the governing council.
“The governing council have tried them in their own wisdom and decided to give them that judgment.“Even though we still see the judgment as not the best, there is nothing we can do than to allow the society to make their comment.’’
According to him, the union feels that the money should have been returned so that the staff will have access to their money, while that of cooperative will be remitted to it.Avosentiyen said that truly a senior lecturer was accused of plagiarism, which was a criminal offence but why the governing council demoted him was not what the union could question because they had acted in their wisdom.He, however, said that there was no established fact on the rape case, as there was no any police or medical report establishing the case.The unionist described the case as alleged victimisation of the person in question by the last administration of the college.“A rape case is a criminal offence that will not be condoned by the union.
“This particular case was fraudulent because there was no established case of rape.“The council had looked at the issue before them and in their wisdom demoted the person involved,’’ he said.He said that the activities of the governing council were subjected to the rules and regulation guiding the college.
The chairman stated that the college had its own condition of service and it was based on that, decisions were taken by the governing council.Meanwhile, the chairman of the governing council, Mr Tunde Samuel said that the decisions taken by the council were purely on legal grounds.Samuel said that the governing council had representative of government and whatever decision that had been taken was within the law.Samuel said that the council had met and rationalised on credible ground with legal advice, putting into consideration the conditions of service.
He noted that the report had been ready, but was delayed to ensure that the pronouncement was within the confines of the law.Samuel, however, challenged the aggrieved persons to go to court if they were not satisfied with the council’s verdict.
The chairman also urged the media to avoid being used by the aggrieved persons, who had been indicted by the disciplinary committee that was set up by the governing council.
(Edited by Ese E. Ekama)