Exams scandal: LAUTECH suspends lecturers, recalls students from NYSC • Oyo, Osun meet on its future

Written by Idowu Adelusi and Banji Aluko

Myriads of financial and examination scandals rocking the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, have been uncovered.

Irked by the development, Sunday Tribune gathered that the institution has consequently recalled some of its affected graduates who are currently participating in the National Youth Service programme.

Four lecturers (names withheld) in the Mathematics Department allegedly awarded fictitious marks to about 100 students to enable them graduate from the department.

When the deeds of the lecturers leaked, the shocked university authority and immediately set up a committee which investigated and affirmed the scandal. The lecturers involved have been placed on suspension.

The registrar of the university wrote the Director-General of the NYSC to recall the students involved from the youth service scheme.

Similarly, two staff (names withheld), a graduate assistant and a non-teaching staff of the institution, caught tampering with students grades, have been placed on suspension.

The two staff in the Agric Economics and Extension Department allegedly collected money from some students to alter their marks and grades, while, three bursary staff, who duped the university huge sums of money, have also been placed on suspension.

Discrepancies in the bursary department were uncovered in the students’ ledger book. Investigation by the head of the unit confirmed the allegations.

The university had, since, set up a panel, while the affected staff and the students who were recalled from the NYSC will soon appear before it.

Confirming the scandals, the Vice Chancellor of LAUTECH, Professor Benjamin Babatunde Adeleke, said since there were evidences to prove that the deeds were indeed done, the affected members of staff had been placed on suspension.

He added that a panel had been set up to look into the allegations, and that the affected staff would remain on suspension until the final report of the panel is out.

The VC who stated that no system was perfect, addedthat, these things happen in every tertiary institution.

“The management won’t condone indiscipline. Our certificates are so valued, our students are doing very well, the reputation of the university is high. Anything that will tarnish the name of the school we don’t want to condone. Anybody who has violated the laid down rules will face the music.”

He confirmed that some of the students already on NYSC have been recalled to find out the truth. “They too will face the panel,” he assured.

“What is most unfortunate for the Nigerian university system today is that quite a number of people who are lecturers are not supposed to be in the university because they don’t know the dos and don’ts of the profession.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Governor, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, and his Osun State counterpart Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, on Friday met to discuss the joint ownership of (LAUTECH) and the processes of handing over the institution to Oyo State .

The meeting, which also included the governing council and the management of the university, was held at the institution’s Senate chambers.

Briefing the press at the end of the meeting Governor Oyinlola disclosed that the two states have agreed to set up a joint committee to look into the issue of the continued joint ownership of the institution.

According to him, the issue at stake involved charting the way forward on the review of the joint ownership of the institution to pave way for the taking over of university by Oyo State .

“The review will be done on a brotherly basis considering the fact that the two states belong to the same family and that the issue will be resolved amicably, he stated.