Disquiet in Osun over reinstatement of sacked workers

Tongues are wagging over the reinstatement of two staff of the Osun State College of Education, Ila Orangun, sacked over 5 years ago for different offences.

One of them Omodogbe Babawale Fadejimi, a lecturer, was allegedly given the boot during the administration of Rauf Aregbola in 2015 for not getting approval of the state government before proceeding for a law course at the Obafemi Awolowo University,Ile-Ife and the Law School respectively.

Equally in November 2014, former Director of Works of the College, Engr. Tokunbo Ogungbemi, was dismissed from the College on account of alleged malfeasance.

Apart from being indicted by the State Auditor General report for not retiring millions of naira received back to the coffers of the college, he is said to be currently standing trials before the EFCC.

Though reinstated in November 2018, the embattled former Director of Works was transferred to the Technical Education Department in the School of Vacational and Technical Education of the institution as a Lecturer.

However, problem started following renewed efforts by some powerful individuals to ensure he gets back his portfolio at the Works Department despite his ongoing prosecution by the EFCC.

As a result, the controversial reinstatement of Fadejimi done on 17th March, 2021 and that of Ogungbemi, is currently generating ripples in the state, especially at the college campus and among related stakeholders.

This is because the government led by Alhaji Gboyega Ayetola, is seen as encouraging the bastardisation of the civil service through the reimbursement causing crises.

” Our concern is that, what could have led to Gov. Oyetola’s resolve to reinstate people like these to the service of the college?” asked one of the bewildered members of the academic union who spoke under anonymity.

Worse still, it was gathered that efforts are being made by some powerful individuals to return Ogungbemi who is still facing EFCC charges, to his former desk as the Director of Works of the institution.

Meanwhile, plans are said to be afoot by some groups in the institution to embark on a formal protest if the current situation is not reversed.

To this effect, the management of the institution, the office of the Head of Service and the Ministry of Education which are fingered in the reinstatement controversy, may soon be bombarded with protests from different quarters of the academic community.