The Provost of the Tai Solarin College of Education (TASCE), Dr. Adeola Kiadese has described allegations of misappropriation of over 740 million naira of theTertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), TASCE Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) among others as malicious and campaign of calumny.
Speaking with Journalists recently at Omu, Ijebu Ode in Ogun State, the provost said the acclaimed leader of the COTAS, Mr. Daniel Aborisade has always been in the attitude of instigating members of staff against the management of the college, adding that the said Aborisade led some members of staff to invade the audit department of the college and vital documents along with some vouchers were taken away under duress, which they are currently using to file a financial mismanagement against the office of the provost.
Adeola said every financial transaction of the college since he assumed office in the space of two years as the provost was clean and intact with an approval from the state government, saying that all accredited courses, moving the college from the mini campus to the permanent site, opening of all road networks, beautifying the frontage of the college, payment of affiliations registration to Olabisi Onabanjo University, staff retreat, payment of salary arrears, recruitment of professors, payment of pensions up to February 2019, capacity building to members of staff and other major and minor works embarked on, was financed with the (IGR) of the college with an official approval from the government.
Also, On the alleged misappropriated 42.5 million naira monthly subvention from the state government the provost said there was no way the college could pay a 100 percent salary, stressing that the subvention can only cover 60 percent of staff salaries while the 250 million naira IGR of the college could accommodate 25 percent of the salaries, putting into consideration other major projects seeking for attention in the college as the wage bill of the college was running to over 74 million.
The provost said in the month of February 2019, 100 percent of staff salaries were paid, adding that the TETFUND money has been expended judiciously with official correspondence from TETFUND with the college and evidence provable with 250 seaters auditorium building, school of science building and the upgrading of the Library to International standard to mention but a few.
He said following this outstanding performance, TETFUND has given him a commendation letter, asking anyone with proof of misappropriation of the fund, the college’s IGR or subvention from the state government to come forward, and added that COTAS has disengaged him from entering the college premises with life threatening phone calls to him and members of staff who are not in support of their method of approach to the agitation for salaries arrears.
On his part, the Chairman Coalition of TASCE Staff (COTAS), Comrade Daniel Aborisade said after series of meeting with the managment on concerned issues to interface with the state government, the managment has not deemed it fit to call a round table meeting with the leadership of the coalition, adding that the germain amongst the issues was the none payment of the 29 months salaries, 48 months salary arrears, effective promotion from 2013 till date, pension and other deductions, reinstatement of Union leaders among others.
He said COTAS leadership have been receiving threat of arrest by the police and phone calls threat to their life by the provost, saying that on assumption of the provost for over two years, he has been spending recklessly, money released by TETFUND and the college IGR has grown so lean under the provost
” And of recent we are receiving letters from police, receiving calls, our life are been threatening most especially the executives by the provost of this college Dr. Adeola Kiadese, he ordered our arrest just because we reported him to EFCC and he has been invited to come and defend all the allegations level against him” Aborisade said
He said a rally was held in February, 2019, in conjunction with Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Ogun State Chapter, where the Governor, senator Ibikunle Amosun promised that all the issues would be looked into, adding that up till this moment nothing has been done with regard to the the statement by the Governor.
