The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, in Osun State, John Adekolawole, has insisted he is still in charge. He said he was not suspended by the academic board of the institution and that the allegations against him were false.
Naijaparry News recalls that the academic board of the institution passed a vote of no confidence on the rector with some members of staff saying that was tantamount to a suspension.
Mr Adekolawole's 'suspension' was reportedly communicated to the members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) by their chairman, Adekunle Masopa, at an emergency congress on Monday.
"The academic board accused the rector of flagrant dereliction of duty by absconding from office for about a month. He was also accused of the desecration of the highly respected office of the rector with the creation of a bedroom furnished with a king-size bed which has made it possible for him to be sleeping at work," the ASUP chairman said.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, the Polytechnic boss said 'I am in charge'.
Mr Adekolawole said he remains the rector of the institution and also the chairman of the academic board.
He also denied placing a bed in his office "or sleeping on duty".
"The truth of the matter is that I am still the rector and the chairman of the academic board. The board has no power to suspend me as chairman nor even as rector.
"Even the governing council will first need to write to the minister of education who will communicate the same to the president before suspension could be made. Let me tell you, I am still the rector and I am in my office.
"Let me also inform you that I have no bed in my office. That was a lie by mischief makers," he said.
When asked about all allegations levelled against him by the academic board, he simply said "we are through with media war."
Recall that the Rector was also accused of "flagrant disregard to the Academic Board's decision of September 16, 2020 that condemned a program called DUAL AWARD which awards both ND and NCE certificates to students of the institution".
The board said the rector had made them believe the programme was duly approved by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
"Most issues on the programme were unknown to the Board and it became very necessary to protect the image of the institution and the sanctity of our academic processes. The Board at her meeting on Wednesday 25th November, 2020 therefore resolved that the programme must be discontinued as instructed by NBTE and thereby constituted a Committee to unravel the details surrounding the programme.
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