There appears to be daggers drawn among the unions, management and Governing Council of the University of Benin (UNIBEN). While the unions are kicking against the rumoured reappointment of its immediate past Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Governing Council Sir Gabriel Toby over sundry allegations, the council chair is also suspecting the Vice-Chancellor as the architect behind the development. This is vis-a-vis Toby's rumoured support for the former Bursar Dr. May Nwoye's reappointment bid, writes OSAGIE OTABOR from Benin.
All is not well at the University of Benin, despite the seeming peaceful atmosphere of the institution. Beside President Goodluck Jonathan’s views on the report of the Visitation Panel, which looked into the affairs of the university between 2004 and 2010, there is a raging battle over who becomes the bursar and the protest against the re-appointment of former Chairman of the Governing Council, Sir Gabriel Toby.
Sources at the university said a new Governing Council would soon be constituted and that there were indications that Sir Toby would be reappointed as the chairman.
The sources also said the current developments are tied to who emerges the next Bursar. The position of the Bursar was advertised in December, last year, following the expiration of the tenure of Dr May Nwoye on January 30, this year.
Meanwhile, an Acting Bursar has been appointed by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Osayuki Oshodin , but the Governing Council is responsible for the screening and appointment of a Bursar in line with the rules and regulations of universities.
However, the new panel, which was given a ten-point terms of reference, carried out its functions, despite the protests. The report of the panel and the subsequent views of President Jonathan were of praises and indictments, deepening the crisis between supporters of the former Bursar and those of the VC.
Areas in the report that further intensified the rift are on federal character and ethnicity, appointments and promotions and posting of cash books, among others.
Though rumours are rife that Sir Toby might be in firm support of Dr Nwoye's re-appointment, the former has denied it, describing it as the handiwork of some mischief makers.
It was also rumoured that the incumbent Vice-Chancellor is determined to ensure that Dr Nwoye is not reappointed, a claim the VC also denied.
However, the UNIBEN chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) last week threatened industrial action should Sir Toby be reappointed for a second term. Other unions have also joined the fray echoing the same position.
At a briefing last week, ASUU-Uniben chairman Dr Anthony Monye-Emina said, ideally, a Pro-Chancellor of a university should be an individual of proven integrity who also facilitates more funding.
Monye-Emina alleged that Sir Toby was a major contractor to the university who "turned the University of Benin into a business centre to enrich himself."
He said: "Sir Toby succeeded with all these because he insisted and made himself the chairman of the university's Tenders Board as well as procurement board against all extant rules while living on the university's lean resources with supplies of food, fruits and water to him in Port Harcourt."
Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) Comrade John Osaretin Alile said Sir Toby disregarded the unions during his first tenure.
According to him: "The man is a politician and a businessman. He has nothing to do with the university community. His method of operation is different from what obtains in other universities. The smooth administration we have should not be disrupted.
"We will lock the university against him. Let them look for another job for him and not in Uniben. He is not fit to head any university."
Alile denied speculations that their agitation was sponsored by the management, saying they were not concerned about who became Bursar.
On his part, the Chairman of Non Academic Staff Union, Comrade Joe Idonige, said Sir Toby saw himself as a tin-god. He said members celebrated when the Governing Council which Sir Toby headed was dissolved.
His words: "His coming will bring unrest to the university. NASU and other sister unions have written a joint statement which we will present to the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Minister of Education."
Oshodin debunked allegations of sponsoring unions’protest against the re-appointment of Sir Gabriel Toby.
Oshodin, who spoke through the Public Relations Officer, Harris Osarenren, a lawyer, said he had a good working relationship with Sir Toby.
His words: "The working relationship between the VC and Council Chairman was cordial. There was no way the VC could sponsor the unions against Sir Toby. Is it possible for the VC to work hand-in-hand with the unions? They are only threatening?"
On the Bursar's reappointment, the VC said: "The Bursar's tenure ended in January and when a tenure ends, we advertise as directed by the Minister of Education. Let the Bursar go and reapply. I don't have anything against her. There is a panel responsible for the appointment. Rumour mongers should go and read what the law says."
Dr Nwoye fingered the VC as being responsible for her ordeal.
She said: "In my work in the Bursary of the University of Benin over the last 27 years, I have spent a considerable time in the Budget Department as well as the Expenditure Control Department. My duty as Bursar is to ensure that the Budget of the University as approved by Council must be respected and that all expenditures must follow the financial regulations approved by Council.
"In doing my job, as effectively as possible, I believe that I am protecting the Vice-Chancellor and Council for which I should be commended. It is, therefore, disappointing that those who should appreciate my efforts are maligning my reputation so that they can have the opportunity of appointing a puppet Bursar whom they can control. I will not say much at this stage because, as I said before, the university has due process of channelling grievances; there is a governing body which is the Council."
However, in an interview, Sir Toby denied the allegations, saying he has no company doing any contract in the university.
He said: "It is unfortunate that such kind of frivolous allegations are being made. There is procurement act of awarding contract and everything starts and ends with the Vice- Chancellor and his team.Most of the contracts we did were Education Trust Fund (ETF) contracts; and there is a procedure because ETF representative is on the Tenders Board, the Federal Ministry of Education officials are also there and after that it goes to the Council."
"I don't even understand how I can turn a university into a business centre. What kind of business would I be doing now that I have not done in 30 or 40 years in top management position? In 1972, when I was appointed the general manager of Rivers State Marketing Board, I was 33 years old and earning the highest salary in public service, earning more than a permanent secretary,"Sir Toby said.
He said the university had to bring in a company to wade into what he described as irreconcilable figures of the students' population between the Registry and the Bursary units.
"When we came into the university, we asked for the number of students the Bursary gave us a different figure and the Registry another. Bursary said, well, 'those who paid are what we get' which meant they didn't know the figure they were having and even the VC confirmed it at the time he took over. So, we invited a company, Sinforest, because it has history of performing. They made their proposals before the Council members who okayed them." he said.
All is not well at the University of Benin, despite the seeming peaceful atmosphere of the institution. Beside President Goodluck Jonathan’s views on the report of the Visitation Panel, which looked into the affairs of the university between 2004 and 2010, there is a raging battle over who becomes the bursar and the protest against the re-appointment of former Chairman of the Governing Council, Sir Gabriel Toby.
Sources at the university said a new Governing Council would soon be constituted and that there were indications that Sir Toby would be reappointed as the chairman.
The sources also said the current developments are tied to who emerges the next Bursar. The position of the Bursar was advertised in December, last year, following the expiration of the tenure of Dr May Nwoye on January 30, this year.
Meanwhile, an Acting Bursar has been appointed by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Osayuki Oshodin , but the Governing Council is responsible for the screening and appointment of a Bursar in line with the rules and regulations of universities.
However, the new panel, which was given a ten-point terms of reference, carried out its functions, despite the protests. The report of the panel and the subsequent views of President Jonathan were of praises and indictments, deepening the crisis between supporters of the former Bursar and those of the VC.
Areas in the report that further intensified the rift are on federal character and ethnicity, appointments and promotions and posting of cash books, among others.
Though rumours are rife that Sir Toby might be in firm support of Dr Nwoye's re-appointment, the former has denied it, describing it as the handiwork of some mischief makers.
It was also rumoured that the incumbent Vice-Chancellor is determined to ensure that Dr Nwoye is not reappointed, a claim the VC also denied.
However, the UNIBEN chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) last week threatened industrial action should Sir Toby be reappointed for a second term. Other unions have also joined the fray echoing the same position.
At a briefing last week, ASUU-Uniben chairman Dr Anthony Monye-Emina said, ideally, a Pro-Chancellor of a university should be an individual of proven integrity who also facilitates more funding.
Monye-Emina alleged that Sir Toby was a major contractor to the university who "turned the University of Benin into a business centre to enrich himself."
He said: "Sir Toby succeeded with all these because he insisted and made himself the chairman of the university's Tenders Board as well as procurement board against all extant rules while living on the university's lean resources with supplies of food, fruits and water to him in Port Harcourt."
Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) Comrade John Osaretin Alile said Sir Toby disregarded the unions during his first tenure.
According to him: "The man is a politician and a businessman. He has nothing to do with the university community. His method of operation is different from what obtains in other universities. The smooth administration we have should not be disrupted.
"We will lock the university against him. Let them look for another job for him and not in Uniben. He is not fit to head any university."
Alile denied speculations that their agitation was sponsored by the management, saying they were not concerned about who became Bursar.
On his part, the Chairman of Non Academic Staff Union, Comrade Joe Idonige, said Sir Toby saw himself as a tin-god. He said members celebrated when the Governing Council which Sir Toby headed was dissolved.
His words: "His coming will bring unrest to the university. NASU and other sister unions have written a joint statement which we will present to the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Minister of Education."
Oshodin debunked allegations of sponsoring unions’protest against the re-appointment of Sir Gabriel Toby.
Oshodin, who spoke through the Public Relations Officer, Harris Osarenren, a lawyer, said he had a good working relationship with Sir Toby.
His words: "The working relationship between the VC and Council Chairman was cordial. There was no way the VC could sponsor the unions against Sir Toby. Is it possible for the VC to work hand-in-hand with the unions? They are only threatening?"
On the Bursar's reappointment, the VC said: "The Bursar's tenure ended in January and when a tenure ends, we advertise as directed by the Minister of Education. Let the Bursar go and reapply. I don't have anything against her. There is a panel responsible for the appointment. Rumour mongers should go and read what the law says."
Dr Nwoye fingered the VC as being responsible for her ordeal.
She said: "In my work in the Bursary of the University of Benin over the last 27 years, I have spent a considerable time in the Budget Department as well as the Expenditure Control Department. My duty as Bursar is to ensure that the Budget of the University as approved by Council must be respected and that all expenditures must follow the financial regulations approved by Council.
"In doing my job, as effectively as possible, I believe that I am protecting the Vice-Chancellor and Council for which I should be commended. It is, therefore, disappointing that those who should appreciate my efforts are maligning my reputation so that they can have the opportunity of appointing a puppet Bursar whom they can control. I will not say much at this stage because, as I said before, the university has due process of channelling grievances; there is a governing body which is the Council."
However, in an interview, Sir Toby denied the allegations, saying he has no company doing any contract in the university.
He said: "It is unfortunate that such kind of frivolous allegations are being made. There is procurement act of awarding contract and everything starts and ends with the Vice- Chancellor and his team.Most of the contracts we did were Education Trust Fund (ETF) contracts; and there is a procedure because ETF representative is on the Tenders Board, the Federal Ministry of Education officials are also there and after that it goes to the Council."
"I don't even understand how I can turn a university into a business centre. What kind of business would I be doing now that I have not done in 30 or 40 years in top management position? In 1972, when I was appointed the general manager of Rivers State Marketing Board, I was 33 years old and earning the highest salary in public service, earning more than a permanent secretary,"Sir Toby said.
He said the university had to bring in a company to wade into what he described as irreconcilable figures of the students' population between the Registry and the Bursary units.
"When we came into the university, we asked for the number of students the Bursary gave us a different figure and the Registry another. Bursary said, well, 'those who paid are what we get' which meant they didn't know the figure they were having and even the VC confirmed it at the time he took over. So, we invited a company, Sinforest, because it has history of performing. They made their proposals before the Council members who okayed them." he said.
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