Ogun Panel submits report, calls for reopening, adoption of audit report

 

 

The Visitation Panel set up by the Ogun State Government to look into issues surrounding crisis at the Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu-Ijebu, has  recommended urgent and full implementation of recommendations of the 2016 staff audit report as some of the issues confronting the institution had been resolved by that report.

 

The Chairman of the panel, Prof. Kamaldeen Balogun, stated this, when the panel submitted its reports containing 33 recommendations to the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

 

Prof. Balogun who described the situation at the institution as worrisome, said the audit report had dealt with the case of those who disturbed the peace of the school and had recommended that eight people should be investigated as a result of their involvement in many atrocities against the institution.

 

The panel according to the Chairman, also recommended that for peace to reign in the College, activities of Coalition of Tai Solarin College of Education Staff (COTAS), which is an unregistered and unrecognized Association be stopped, while the ban on activities of recognized unions be lifted.

 

He said it was imperative for the State government to reopen the institution to prevent disaccreditation while its Governing Council should be reconstituted, to avoid the state of anarchy and further damage.

 

While thanking the State government for giving members of the panel the opportunity to serve, Prof. Balogun urged government to endeavour to pay three months salary to the staff, adding that five of the recommendations were the immediate solutions to the problems and the rest for short and long term.

 

Receiving the report, Governor Abiodun said government could not afford to toy with the College as doing so would jeopardise the future of the youths who crave for quality education in the State.

 

“Government will look into the five cogent recommendations and decide on them. I want to assure you that we will look into all the 33 recommendations and make our decision”, he said.

 

Prince Abiodun commended members of the panel for demonstrating high degree of commitment, responsibility and patriotism by completing the assignment a week ahead of schedule.