Promotion of 70 professors, others not parting gift, says EKSU VC

‘Government owed varsity N1 billion subventions’

The outgoing Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti (EKSU), Prof. Edward Olanipekun, yesterday, defended the recent promotion of 70 academic members of staff to professors and 60 others to associate professors cadre, saying that the concerned members of staff earned their promotion and not a parting gift.

Olanipekun also said that the state government owed the university four months subventions, which amounted to over N1 billion, adding that if the money had been paid, EKSU won’t owe any member of staff salary.

The VC, who stated this during an interactive session with journalists at the university’s campus in Ado-Ekiti, said that the era of amputated salary had gone in the university as workers are now being paid full salary.

He said: “The harvest of promotion of 70 members of staff to professors, 60 readers, including a deputy librarian and also the elevation of some non-teaching staff, including Head of Directorate of Public Affairs to Deputy Registrar was not a parting gift. They all earned the elevation.

“For the professors, their promotion is consequent upon receiving two positive reports from external assessors. So, that is why their promotions won’t come at once. Why we have such a large number was because it was not only those who are due for promotion for that particular year, but also included cases that are pending.

“So, we had promotions from two yearly review years and also some outstanding cases. It wasn’t a parting gift because we have statutory periods that the appointment and promotion committee meets. I congratulate all of them.

“Even as I speak, we have some reports that are also ready but I have decided that I will allow the incoming VC to process and handle that. I hope that by the time he is holding the first Sand P meeting, he will be announcing the promotions of some professors.”

The outgoing VC, who also spoke on the issue of amputated salary, which was the lexicon used by the academic members of staff to describe part-payment of salaries, said: “There is nothing like that again. My comrades are here. I can see some chairmen of some unions here. If I am telling lies, they will raise their voice against my submission. The lexicon amputated salary has gone forever and will not come back to EKSU by the grace of God,” he further said.