The Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof Adebola Ekanola has promised to make the university staff’s welfare his top priority.
According to OPTIMALTIMESNG, Prof Ekanola made this submission at the joint congress of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff of University (NASU) of the university on Wednesday, December 2nd.
The Acting VC, who listed communication gaps and paucity of funds as factors responsible for the altercation during the tenure of Prof Olayinka, said the former VC had the interest of the university and its staff at heart.
Prof Ekanola with union leaders.
Credit: Optimaltimesng.com
He also spoke on the need to restore peace. “The last months have been very turbulent. I think it is largely due to misunderstanding and communication gap. I can assure you that being part of the immediate past administration under Prof. Idowu Olayinka who is my mentor as well as my boss, we had a lot of misunderstanding,” he said.
“I can assure you that he has the best interest of the university and its staff, both teaching and non-teaching at heart. But I suppose we were not able to communicate effectively. That is why we had misunderstanding. I want to emphasise that I identify with all that Prof Idowu Olayinka did because I was part of that administration.”
He further said there would be an improvement in the communication channel so issues would be collectively resolved.
Prof Ekanola also promised his administration would be transparent and open. “All the principal officers will be very accessible. There will be effective communication, openness and transparency, we should not have any problem to work together as a united workforce of the University of Ibadan,” he said.
Present at the joint congress which held at the university were leaders of SSANU and NASU—Wale Akinremi and Malachi Etim, among others.
Mr Akinremi appreciated the VC for attending the congress without prior notice.
He said: “The presence of the VC has settled a lot of things. We are going to see his approach to issues. It is better to settle things amicably than allow things to linger on.
“He has started well and should be a father to all. He should embrace peace. He will enjoy our support and cooperation.”
