‘They said I’m stubborn’ — FCE Akoka provost alleges threat to life

Wahab Azeez, provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos, has alleged that his life is in danger.

Speaking during a virtual press briefing on Thursday, Azeez asked for protection from the government and security agencies over “continued harassment by protesting workers of the college”.

Azeez alleged that some unionists in the colllege under the aegis of “Concerned Staff” have threatened him and his family. He said the group also locked up his office and issued him quit notice from his residence on the campus.

He said the unionists locked up his office since May, claiming that his tenure as provost has ended despite a letter stating otherwise by the government.

He said the union leaders have consistently led daily protests for more than four weeks before storming his official residence on Wednesday and threatened to eject him within seven days.

“A few days ago, the protesters mobilised random students and said the president of the students’ union was impeached simply because union’s leadership did not join their protest,” Azeez said.

“On Thursday, they threatened an impeachment process against NASU leadership for heeding the directive of the minister. If this isn’t an abuse, then what is it?

“They have also accused me of being dictatorial or being stubborn, but despite their excesses not a single one among them has been queried or sanctioned. I have remained an activist all my life and that is why I have remained quiet over the matter. But I think they should know that I am still the chief security officer of the college and it is still my responsibility to provide security for staff and students. A few individuals cannot take laws into their hands.”

However, some of the union leaders have denied the allegation of threatening the life of the provost or his family members, adding that their activities have followed the rules of engagement.

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 ammended Federal Colleges of Education Act, 2023, which recommended five-year single term for management officers education colleges nationwide, came into effect.

In December 2023, Augustine Nwachukwu and Kazeem Qadri wrote to Tahir Mamman, minister of education, seeking interpretation of the Act in connection with the tenure of office of principal officers of the college, particularly, the provost.

Another letter was written under the aegis of Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Staff Unions of the college and was addressed to the executive secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education.

The letter was signed by Nwachukwu and Qadri for SSUCOEN, and Olasunkanmi Alonge and David Odukunle, chairman and secretary of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) respectively.

In his response to the inquiries dated May 23 and referenced: SAF36/S.511/T/143/, the education minister 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 passage of the Federal Colleges of Education (amended) Act, 2023 provides for one single term of 5 years as tenure of office for the Provosts of Federal Colleges of Education as reflected in section 13 (6),” the letter reads.

“The Act made further provisions to cover the appointments of those Provosts who have been appointed prior to the assent of the amended Act Section 13(7)(a)(b) provides: If on the commencement of this section, a Provost appointed before the commencement of this Act has held office for: (a) Less than five (5) years, the Provost shall be deemed to be serving the five – year single term and shall not have the right for the renewal of his appointment for a further term of four (4) years; and (b) more than five (5) years and serving the second term of office, be deemed to be serving the last term of office without any further extension.”

The minister said the sections referenced provided two scenarios for those appointed before the new Act came into force, and the other for those appointed after the act came into force.

“The second 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 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.”