By PRECIOUS UZO

FUOYE Progressive Group, a pressure group at the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) in Ekiti State, has called for the immediate suspension of the university's Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, amidst serious allegations brought against him bordering on sexual harassment, financial misappropriation, embezzlement, abuse of office, and gross administrative misconduct.

The group is also asking the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, dissolve the university?s Governing Council ?for the lukewarm role it played in handling the serious allegations levelled against the vice-chancellor which were brought before it for hearing.?

The demands are contained in a four-point petition addressed to The Honourable Minister of Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, Nigeria and titled, "PETITION AGAINST THE DECISION OF THE FUOYE GOVERNING COUNCIL TO APPROVE LEAVE FOR THE VICE-CHANCELLOR INSTEAD OF SUSPENSION, AND A CALL FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL.

FUOYE Progressive Group in the petition dated April 14, 2025 frowned at the recent granting of a 6-month previously denied annual leave to the sitting, embattled VC to proceed on "leave immediately" in the heat of an on-going and yet to be resolved in-house committee investigations into all the allegations brought against the academic don.

According to the group, ?The recent decision of the FUOYE Governing Council to approve a six-month leave for the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina is not only ethically questionable but also reflects a level of complicity and compromise unbecoming of a university governing council.?

FUOYE Progressive Group, in arguing that the Governing Council's action reeks of nothing but bias, complicity, a gross violation of administrative ethics and precedents, said it was an "erosion of institutional integrity," and that there was an urgent need for ministerial interventive action.

They prayed in their petition among other things, that the Minister of Education should "recall the vice-chancellor from his purported leave and immediately suspend him in line with public service and university regulations; Dissolve the FUOYE Governing Council with immediate effect, based on their lack of impartiality, administrative compromise, and unethical conduct.?

The group also called for the constitution of an independent panel from the Ministry of Education to carry out a full and transparent investigation into the allegations of:

- Sexual harassment of female staff and students,

- Misappropriation of university funds,

- Embezzlement of resources and abuse of office,

- Breaches of procurement and due process laws;

- Investigate the conduct of the Governing Council itself for its role in suppressing due process and enabling impunity.

In conclusion, the group in their petition said: ?The university system in Nigeria must not be allowed to degenerate into a safe haven for misconduct and cover-ups. The decision to approve leave for Prof. Fasina instead of placing him under disciplinary suspension is a direct affront to the values of justice, fairness, and administrative propriety.

?We urge the Minister to rise to this challenge and conclude the laudable action he has already started by restoring integrity and accountability to FUOYE.?