The Committee which was constituted by the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke investigation into the controversy crisis rocking Ila Orangun College of Education, has reversed the suspension of the college provost, Prof Jimoh Afolabi and ordered status quo ante pending the outcome of the investigation.
This was contained in a statement on Thursday signed by the spokesperson to the governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed.
Osun Defender recalls that the Governor had directed that his Chief of Staff should lead a small committee to investigate the matter. The Committee also included the Secretary to the State Government and Commissioner for Education among others to host a crisis resolution meeting between the school management and the Governing Council.
In a new development at its meeting chaired by the Committee Chairman who is also the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon Kazeem Akinleye, both the Governing Council and the College management were directed to revert to state of affairs before the eruption of the crisis.
After almost four hours of presentations by both parties, the committee further instructed both the Provost and the Governing Council Chairman to avoid further escalation either through media war or litigation.
The Committee Chairman, Hon Akinleye reminded the principal officers of the college’s enabling law, the public service financial regulations and the oath of office they took upon their appointments.
“We also don’t want the crisis to paralyze the school. Any protracted leadership crisis can disrupt academic activities and even the peace of the Ila Orangun community.
“At the same time, we want to ensure protection of public funds. We have made far reaching recommendations to prevent any future re-occurrence of such infighting and confrontation”, the Committee Chairman noted after the meeting.
The Governing Council Chairman, Dr Peter Babalola; the College Provost, Prof Jimoh Afolabi and other top officials of the College attended the committee hearing.
The Committee hearing continues.
