As the unpaid salaries of workers at the Tai Solarin College of Education (TASCE), Omu Ijebu begins to generate concerns, the Ogun State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the State government to return to the discussion table with staff of the college.
Lecturers and non-academic staffers of the college have been at loggerheads with the Ogun State Government over their unpaid salaries and arrears.
In a statement made available to DAILY POST on Thursday, NANS said “the trajectory of incidents pervading the academic atmosphere of Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu-Ijebu has become a cause for concern for all stakeholders. Consequently, Ogun State Government need to urgently step up their plan to reinvigorate the higher institution.”
Ogun NANS Chairman, Damilola Simeon, said since the separation of Tai-Solarin College of Education from the Tai-Solarin University of Education, the school had been bedevilled with myriads of challenges.
He said, “successive government administrations have been unable to curtail the issues of poor funding, decreased subvention, incommensurate facilities, non-payment of salary backlogs, back-to-back strike actions, among others.
The students’ leader held that “The inability of two successive administrations to find practicable solution to the TASCE dilemma severely complicated the issue up to the point of total closure of the institution.”
He recalled that when the Governor Dapo Abiodun administration came on board, it set up a committee to see to the effective resuscitation of the higher institution.
“The Visitation Panel set up by the Ogun State government to look into issues surrounding crisis at the Tai Solarin College of Education, TASCE, Omu-Ijebu, through its Chairman, Prof. Kamaldeen Balogun had recommended urgent and full implementation of recommendations of the 2016 staff audit report as some of the issues confronting the institution.
“Aside from the reopening of the college, very little have been achieved by the panel,” Simeon stated.
He posited that “It is imperative that at this time, the state government should further consolidate on its commitment to rejuvenate the educational sector by going back to the discussion table particularly on the implementation of the 2016 staff audit report of Tai-Solarin College of Education.
”This is essential to prevent further damage to the institution”, he said.
“Moreover, we want to unequivocally appreciate the enviable leadership acumen of Dr. Lukmon Kiadese. He has been able to steady the ship and effectively manage the situation despite seemingly insurmountable challenges.
“The Mr. Yemi Adefulu-led TASCE Governing Council have also contributed immensely to the progress of the institution through unalloyed support, dedication and seasoned counsels.”
He said, “It is essential to sound a note of warning to all rabble-rousers who are planning to import non-students to cause mayhem in the state.
“Also, we are aware of the press statement in the media by some individuals in the students’ movements who are threatening a showdown on our campus. We want to state that we have achieved the reopening of the school about two years ago and we shall not allow some less-informed persons to drive us back in this struggle. Our leadership shall call for action only if need be and we shall be giving the government the benefit of doubt to listen to our demands before we do so. Hence we are asking all people with ulterior motives to stay clear of the matter.
“While we appreciate some stakeholders’ concern, we maintain that peaceful resolution is best to sustain academic cohesion on the campus.”
Source: https://dailypost.ng
