Ekiti State University (EKSU) management had said that it won’t tolerate any form of fraudulent practices in the institution.
This was revealed in a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti by Mr Bode Olofinmuagun, Head, Directorate of Information and Corporate Affairs.
The statement was contrary to insinuations by the leadership of Joint Action Committee, comprising the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions.
According to the management, the university, under the leadership of Prof. Edward Olanipekun, has no tolerance for any act of fraud, graft or infraction and does not have any sacred cow.
“For the sake of clarity, the university management does not have any vested interest in the alleged portal fraud.
“As a matter of fact, the university management, on the directive of the governing council, had since referred the matter to the appropriate government agency for necessary action.
“JAC III was duly informed by the university management about this development.
“Hence, it is worrisome and unfortunate JAC III decided to feign ignorance about this, thus resorting to maliciously feeding the public with falsehood and unsubstantiated allegations.
“Neither the Chairman of Council nor the Vice- Chancellor has ever attempted to and will never cover up any fraud in the university.
“Consequently, all staffers, who were alleged to have committed administrative infractions in the portal fraud, shall soon be made to face appropriate disciplinary committees,” the statement noted.
The management revealed that it was not unaware of the arrears of three months unpaid salaries in 2018, unremitted cooperative deductions and contributory pension scheme, saying that they all predated the current administration.
It pledged its resolve to address the welfare and other legitimate issues raised by JAC III and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The management said that the doors of the vice- chancellor were always open to dialogue with a view to providing the necessary and required leadership in the university.
“Apart from defraying substantially the huge debts it met on ground, this current administration, under the leadership of Prof. Edward Olanipekun, has ensured payment of gross salaries and other emoluments consistently, despite the paucity of funds.
“Sadly, the recent inability of the university to meet wholly its financial obligations is not unconnected with the COVID-19 lockdown.
“This is coupled with the elongation of the 2019/2020 academic session which seriously affected the internally- generated revenue (IGR) of the university.
“More importantly, the failure of the past administration in the state to release six months subvention to the university contributed, in no small measure, to the precarious financial situation of the university.
“It is important to also emphasise that the university management has not been lackadaisical to issues affecting the welfare of staffers.
“This is evident in the promotion of deserving staffers as and when due, not minding the limited resources presently at the disposal of the university,” the statement said.
