Obafemi Awolowo University

Post UTME admission: Atrocity in Obafemi Awolowo University again

Borishade Olaifa

Last month, the administration of President Mohammed Buhari proscribed the governing council of OAU, Ile-Ife on the premise that loads of corruption allegations and mismanagement leveled against them, more importantly in the process of appointing a new VC for the institution.

The President asked the Registrar (secretary to the dissolved council) to take over the affairs of the school, pending the determination of Court case instituted against the School management of the institution by two of the four Unions on campus (namely SSANU and NASU). The President however, failed to announce an Acting VC for the institution. The court case was adjourned to October 5, 2016. The activities on the campus have been shut down by the two unions on the allegations that there are millions of naira and foreign currencies in cash stocked in the office of the out gone VC (Prof. Tale Omole) and the illegally appointed one (Prof. Taofeek Salami) who was the former Deputy VC (Academic) until the new Acting VC comes who they will together go into the offices. The school is yet to start the 2014/15 Academic session which most of the school in Nigeria have almost concluded, if not concluded.

The Registrar has refused to open the school despite the mandate given to him by Mr. President claiming that he has not received official letter from the Presidency. The workers have not been paid the June Salary because the Bursar also claimed that there is nobody to give her order for payment.

The present atrocity on the campus despite the unrest is the issuance of a Circular by the Registrar which was not dated, no reference number and not signed (also posted on the school website www.oauife.edu.ng) instructing the prospective students seeking admission to the institution for 2016/17 academic session to buy a screening scratch card at the rate of #1,500:00 only but at the level of the designated banks who are to sell the scratch cards, a sum of #6,580:00 is charged saying that the candidate are expected to first buy #5,000:00 scratch card to access the e-portal in order to use the #1,500:00 card for Screening registration DESPITE THE OREDR OF THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION THAT NO INSTITUTION SHOULD CHARGE MORE THAN #2,500:00 FOR THE SCREENING AND CAN ONLY BE PAID BY THE STUDENTS WHO THE INSTITUTION WILL EVENTUALLY GIVE ADMISSION AND NOT BY ALL PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS. This is another evidence of impunity and corruption going on in the university.

Please, do your independent investigation and help save OAU from collapsing in the hands of this cabals using university Autonomy Acts to commit Atrocities and exploitation of students.

Borishade Olaifa writes from the Department of Botany, OAU.