FCE Akoka: Minister orders end to workers’ protest, asks provost to return to office

Tanko Sununu, minister of state for education, has addressed the conflict between Wahab Azeez, provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos, and protesting workers of the institution. 

Last month, Azeez alleged that his life was in danger.

He accused some unionists in the college under the aegis of “concerned staff” of locking up his office, claiming that his tenure as provost has ended.

Azeez asked for protection from the government and security agencies over “continued harassment by the workers”.

On Thursday, the warring parties met with Sununu, who represented Tahir Mamman, education minister, to reach a resolution.

The meeting resolved that “the key to the office of the provost will be handed over to the chairman of the governing council to allow for Azeez to resume his official functions”.

The minister also ordered an end to the ongoing protest by the workers, mandating the governing council to “address the issue regarding the appointment of the bursar of the institution”.

The council was directed to investigate the allegations made by the college workers that the management had misappropriated the funds approved for fencing the college campus.

“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 resolution states.

“On the state of offices of chief lecturers, the college should take immediate measures to improve the condition or allow them to go back to their former offices.”

The resolution was signed by representatives of the ministry; Adenuga Olatunde, chairman of the college’s newly inaugurated governing council; Augustin Nwachukwu, chairman of senior staff union of colleges of education; and Olasunkanmi Alonge, chairman of the college’s non-academic staff union.

BACKGROUND

Azeez was appointed the provost of the college in May 2019 for a four-year term of office, but his letter of reappointment for another four-year tenure in office was dated January 23, 2023.

Following his reappointment by the government, Azeez said he resumed for the second term on May 26, 2023.

However, on June 12, 2023, an amended Federal Colleges of Education Act, 2023, which recommended a five-year single term for management officers of education colleges nationwide, came into effect.

The unions wrote to the education minister, seeking interpretation of the Act in connection with the tenure of office of principal officers of the college, particularly, the provost.

In his response to the inquiries dated May 23 and referenced: SAF36/S.511/T/143/, Mamman explained the contents of the new Act and the interpretation by the ministry’s legal department.

The letter was signed on behalf of the minister by Enenobi Azorbo, director of legal services.

“The scenario which is the case at hand is where a Provost has completed the first tenure of four years and has been re-appointed for another tenure of four years when the amendment Act commences, he shall be deemed to be serving his last term of office of four years without further extension,” the letter reads.

“The non-further extension in this case is that he cannot enjoy five years under the second tenure as enjoyed by the Provost in the first scenario. He will therefore complete the four year term of the second tenure.”