Workers protest against removal of acting provost at College of agric

Workers of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure (FECA), Ondo State, have staged a peaceful protest against the removal of the acting provost of the college, Dr. Emmanuel Moyinjesu, by the Agriculture Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN).

Moyinjesu served as the acting provost from 2018 till now, after a former provost, Dr Samson Odedina, had served a five-year term. 

The acting provost was replaced with the Head of Department, Animal Health and Production, Dr Akinyemi Fadiyimu, last Friday by the ARCN.

The protesters, who were the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, FECA chapter, on Monday, displayed various placards with inscriptions such as ‘Dissolve Governing Board’ and ‘Call ARCN to order,’ among others.

Speaking with journalists, the chairman of FECA’s chapter of ASUP, Mr. Ogunyinka Abimbola, said: “If the government is saying they want to change the acting provost, there is no problem. But they must tell us his offence because the rules say the most senior staff should be appointed as acting provost when there is a vacancy.”

Meanwhile, the Governing Council of the college has justified the sack of the Dr Moyinjesu, who was accused of gross abuse of office and some administrative infractions.

A memo signed by the registrar of the college, Dr Pius Ade Adebisi, stated: “The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria has approved a change in the leadership of the College. 

“To this effect, the council has approved that Dr Akinyemi Albert Fadiyimu should take over the leadership of the college and oversee its activities pending the appointment of a substantive Provost. The change is with effect from 22nd April 2019.”

According to ASUP’s chairman, “There is no problem in removing him but they must tell us his offense because the rules say the most senior staff should be appointed as acting provost when there is a vacancy. 

“But surprisingly, the newly appointed acting provost is the fourth position on the line and it came to us suddenly. We have had many acting provosts in the college and the due process was followed.”  

The chairman, however, threatened that academic activities in the college would be paralyzed until the issues were resolved.