The management of Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, Ondo State, has appealed to the workers protesting against alleged abuse of office and high-handedness by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Akinbo Adesomoju, to be calm, promising that the contentious issues would be resolved soon.

The protesters, under the aegis of the Joint Action Congress (JAC), including the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), commenced a seven-day peaceful action on Tuesday, chanting solidarity songs at the institution’s main gate.

They displayed placards with various inscriptions, such as “Council led by Adesomoju is Illegal,” “Council, For Peace to Reign, Give to Caesar What Belongs to Caesar,” “Council Chairman Must Go, Bye Bye Adesomoju,” and “Don’t Deny Our Members Their Promotions.”

The JAC Chairman, Bobola Bamigbola, told newsmen that Adesomoju allegedly engaged in abuse of office and high-handedness that are inimical to the development of the institution, saying, “Two of our members who passed their examinations were summarily denied promotion by the council chairman.

We also state unequivocally that Adesomoju must step down as the council chairman for breaching the provisions of the gazette establishing this institution, which states that a council chairman must not exceed two terms, but Adesomoju is occupying the seat illegally in his third term.”

Bamigbola said the protest would continue until their demands are met.

In his reaction, Adesomoju dismissed the allegations, claiming that he followed the laid-down rules and regulations for promotions at the institution.

“I am not the Council; I am just the chairman, and any decision taken on issues in this institution cannot be said to be taken by me alone, but by the governing council at large,” he said.

However, in a move to douse the tension, the Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Abiodun Peter Okunniga, has urged JAC to comply with the directive that its letter of complaint against non-approval of its members as directors be routed through the vice-chancellor just as he asserted that only the Visitor to the university has the power to determine the tenure of the pro-chancellor.

Okunniga assured the protesters that a meeting of the governing council would soon hold and the crisis would be resolved.