Embattled lecturers and other members of staff of the Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu in Ogun State have called on Gov Dapo Abiodun to remember the promises he made to them before and after his election by putting an end to their “illegal” arrest and arraignment.
DAILY POST reported yesterday that Abiodun admitted Tuesday that five lecturers of TASCE were arrested on his order because they allegedly disrupted the matriculation ceremony in the institution under the guise of protesting non-payment of their salaries and arrears.
But the lecturers said they were surprised that the governor, instead of fulfilling his promises, embarked on the arrest, detention and arraignment of their colleagues who are protesting 60 months of unpaid salaries.
Speaking with DAILY POST on behalf of his colleagues, Daniel Aborisade, who was one of the arraigned lecturers, said it was too early for the governor to renege on the promises he made while he was canvassing for votes; saying “our members are dying of hunger.”
“It is too early for this government to be out against us. We were on the good book of the governor before, during and after his election; with good promises from him to us. We met him also on April 24, and he reiterated his earlier promises which we are still waiting. Though we did not sign a written agreement with Gov Abiodun, he gave us his words.”
Aborisade told our correspondent that Abiodun’s allegation that the arrested lecturers disrupted the matriculation ceremony of the college was not true.
He said, “I was not in school on the said day, how come I am being alleged of disturbing the matriculation ceremony? I was arrested at the governor’s office, days after the matriculation.
“The governor alleged that we disturbed matriculation and orientation ceremonies that were conducted peacefully with pictures shared on social media, but we were charged for armed robbery, disturbance of public peace, burglary etc. What is the correlation between these allegations and governor’s reason for our arrest?” he asked.
Aborisade also expressed worry that the governor saw nothing bad in students beating their lecturers.
“So the governor is saying it is good for students to beat up their lecturers? Why did he not order the arrest of those students that beat up their lecturers who are calling on him to pay their 60 months salary?”
The lecturer alleged that the Provost of the college, Dr Lukman Kiadese, with the backing of the governor had been harassing staff of TASCE with policemen; adding that most of them being trailed by the police could no longer sleep in their houses.
“As we speak, police are still after our members, most of us can’t sleep in our houses again. The Provost is gallivanting around claiming that he has Mr. Governor’s support to deal with any staff that agitate for payment of their 60 months salary.
“Police are on campus harassing our people. Attendance register is to be opened as from next Monday and any staff that failed to report at work are to be fired; and those staff on their ‘arrest list’ are to be picked up once they appear in school.” Aborisade added.
Meanwhile, Aborisade has appealed to Gov Abiodun to fulfill his promises by paying them “the 50% balances of May and June with full salaries of July and August 2019” to ameliorate their problems; while also begging him to “set machinery in motion on how to gradually defray the backlog salaries owned by OGD and Amosun administrations.”
“Schools resume next Monday and we have no hope of paying our children fees and we are being compelled to teach other people’s children, even on an empty stomach.
“We still want to appeal to the governor to be wary of fifth columnists who are feeding him with lies. He should try and get the true state of TASCE before taking actions.
“The provost of the college is giving wrong information to the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the SSG, who are in turn feeding the governor with such lies without verifying them.
“We request the governor to please investigate further and then take informed action against anybody found culpable.
“The provost of the college is all out to paint us black before the governor just because we have alleged him of financial recklessness and that he is not qualified to occupy the office of the Provost in line with the college enabling law. He has recommended that 96 of us be sacked; even when we are short of staff.
“We are teachers of teachers; we award certificates based on character and learning, we expect our visitor to condemn students beating their lecturers. These are future teachers of our children and future leaders Nigeria is looking up to.” Aborisade submitted.
