The Committee of Unions in Tertiary Institutions (CUTI) has described some obnoxious conditions for the appointment of Provosts and Registrars in Kwara as unsuitable and unacceptable.
This is contained in a statement signed by the union’s Public Relation Officer, Mr Abdul-Lateef Yahaya, in Ilorin on Sunday.
It quoted the state CUTI Chairman, Mr Olomu Olaitan, as saying this during a visit with his committee to the Provost, Kwara State College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies (CAILS), Ilorin, Dr Abdullahi Olokoba.
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Olomu explained that the stringent condition for a Chief Lecturer to have spent the period of five years as one of the qualification prerequisites to be considered for the appointment of Provost in one of the Colleges was wrong.
He said that it was not in line with the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) scheme of service.
“If this method is not changed, it will deprive some lecturers within the system from reaching the height of their career in the system,” he said.
The chairman called on the state government to correct the anomaly, in the interest of justice, fairness and development in the system.
Olomu also called on the government to focus on human capital development of workers, so as to enhance productivity in the system.
He, however, acknowledged that the state-owned tertiary institutions have been witnessing regular payment of salary by the present administration.
“There is need for government to change the operations of the institution, with a view to meet up with the purposes of which the institutions were established,” Olomu said.
The chairman, therefore, charged the heads of tertiary institutions to ensure regular training and retraining of workers as well as motivate them for more productivity.
“There is need for unity among workers, as no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of rancour, bickering and acrimony,” he said.
Olomu pledged the support of the committee for the management of various institutions, in a bid to improve on its operations in accordance with the master plans for tertiary education in the state.
Mr Abdulfatai Bello, the union’s Treasurer, explained that the state government has the exclusive power on the appointment of Chief Executives of tertiary institutions.
Bello said that as a stakeholder, the position paper of CUTI as submitted to Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is to offer useful suggestions that would improve the system for better, not aimed at witch-hunting anybody.
He stressed the need for true change in the modus operandi of the institutions, to complement the effort of the government in repositioning the education sector in the state.
The treasurer expressed optimism that the tripartite relationship amongst the government, the management and the unions will in no small measure assist the bid to restore past glories of tertiary institutions in the state.
Responding, CAILS Provost, Dr Abdullahi Olokoba, expressed gratitude for the role of CUTI in the welfare of workers and assured that plans are underway by the college management to improve the system.
Olokoba said that there are plans to provide welfare enhancement to further motivate the staff.
He commended the state governor for bringing stability in the state tertiary institutions.
The provost noted that Coronavirus has brought many challenges to the academic calendar, and reiterated commitment to make it up as soon as COVID-19 is over.
He assured his continued support to CUTI in its aged long role in the development of tertiary education in the state.