In a move to resolve a longstanding dispute over the tenure of the provost at the Federal College of Education, Technical (FCE(T)) in Akoka, Lagos, the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, has intervened and asked the current provost, Dr. Ademola Azeez, to resume his official duties.
As reported by PUNCH, The minister's directive came during a reconciliation meeting he chaired in Abuja between Dr. Azeez and representatives of the protesting workers at the college. As per the resolutions of the meeting, the key to the provost's office, which had been locked by the aggrieved workers during a protest in May, will now be released to the newly inaugurated Governing Council of the college.
"The Provost should be allowed to operate under the supervision of the Chairman of the Governing Council of the College whilst all staff seize to protest forthwith," the agreement stated.
The dispute first erupted on May 27th when the staff members staged a protest against Dr. Azeez, citing concerns over his continued tenure. The protesters argued that his prolonged stay in office violated the governing Act of Federal Colleges nationwide.
"The workers stated that the Provost's tenure in office ended on May 26, 2024, following Section 13, Subsections 7a and b of the new Act signed by President Bola Tinubu," the article notes.
However, Dr. Azeez maintained that he was appointed for the first term of four years in 2019 and was duly reappointed by the institution's governing council in 2023, thereby starting his second term on May 27, 2023, before the amended act was signed into law on June 12, 2023.
In May, the Minister had written to the unions, affirming the legality of Dr. Azeez's second term of four years. However, the protesters remained unsatisfied and continued their daily demonstrations on the campus.
Recognizing the need for a resolution, the Minister summoned the parties to a meeting at the ministry's headquarters in Abuja. The agreement signed at the meeting stipulates that the Governing Council Chairman should meet with the college staff representatives immediately after the reconciliation meeting.
The meeting also mandated the new council to investigate the allegation of misappropriation of funds approved for the fencing of the college, which was leveled against the college management by the workers.
Additionally, the agreement addressed the issue of the offices of chief lecturers, stating that "the college should take immediate measures to improve the condition or allow them to go back to their former offices."
The meeting was attended by several key stakeholders, including the Director of Colleges of Education in the ministry, Dr. Uchenna Uba; the Chairman of the newly inaugurated Governing Council of the College, Dr. Adenuga Olatunde; the Caretaker Chairman of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, Ishola Lawal;
The Chairman of the Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education, Augustin Nwachukwu; and the Chairman of the Non-Academic Staff Union on the campus, Olasunkanmi Alonge.
By intervening and brokering a compromise, the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, has taken a significant step in resolving the long-standing dispute and restoring stability at the Federal College of Education, Technical in Akoka, Lagos.