FUOYE VC to Reinstate Suspended ASUU Leader

* Invests in technology to fight cultism, kidnapping

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Prof Abayomi Fashina, has concluded arrangement to reinstate the suspended Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the institution, Dr. Gabriel Omonijo, who was suspended indefinitely in 2019.

The VC also advised his colleagues across the country to think outside the box in order to be able to fund their universities, saying no institution of learning can develop with sole and absolute reliance on money from the government.

On the cases of abductions and cult-related killings on campuses, Fashina said the university is investing in intelligence gathering and digital gadgets to monitor the campus and apprehend evil doers before they perpetrate their nefarious activities.

Fashina stated these in Oye Ekiti, headquarters of Oye Local Government Area last Saturday at an event to mark his 100 days in office.

The VC said: “As part of our efforts to restore orderliness and peace, we are bringing back Omonijo and Mr. Seun Odedeji, who were suspended on accounts of their union activities during the time of my predecessor. We have promised this and we have opted for out-of-court settlement.”

On how best to fund any university, he said: “God is the one bankrolling us. If you think outside the box, you will do many things. We are going into partnerships with different bodies, organisations and well-meaning individuals to invest here. We are also using our vast human resources to achieve results.

“We are also blocking leakages in order to be able to raise our internally generated revenue (IGR), and these have been paying off.”

Fashina further disclosed that the university is deploying digital equipment as well as partnering security agencies, host community and students’ union to fish out potential cultists, to avert disruption of activities and perpetration of killings by unruly students.

The VC, who inaugurated some projects in the school, promised to provide modern structures and road networks to connect the school, give it aesthetic value, and increase quality of education next one year.