Corrupt lecturers: Presidency orders SGF to investigate Perm Sec
By Ihuoma Chiedozie and Musikilu Mojeed, Abuja
Published: Tuesday, 23 Dec 2008
Indications emerged on Monday that the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Goke Adegoroye, is to be investigated by the Presidency for allegedly misrepresenting President Umaru Yar’Adua at the 36th convocation ceremony of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, where he made allegations of corruption against lecturers.

Our correspondents gathered that Yar’Adua was shocked on Sunday when he read Adegoroye’s statement which was attributed to him, in national newspapers.

As a result, the President, on Monday, directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, to investigate how the invitation to him through the ministry to attend the convocation in his capacity as President and Visitor to the university, ended up with the permanent secretary.

In the controversial speech, Adegoroye had alleged that some lecturers collected money ranging from N250, 000 to N500, 000 from students in return for unmerited grades

The permanent secretary had, while criticising the scourge of corruption plaguing the nation’s academic system, also alleged that some of the lecturers engaged in illicit affairs with their female students.

A reliable source informed our correspondent that the SGF was specifically mandated to find out why the permanent secretary flouted the tradition whereby all speeches to be delivered on behalf of the President were sent to his office for vetting, reworking and sometimes, to be completely re-written.

The source added that the fact that Adegoroye was a former senior lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, suggested a useful lead in the ensuing investigations.

According to the source, “The SGF was directed to find out why disciplinary measures should not be taken against the permanent secretary, who many believe, went back to attack his former colleagues using the name of the President.”

In a move to forestall future occurrence, the SGF was also directed to inform all ministers that all draft speeches must reach the President’s office at least two weeks to the delivery date.

The source said, “The President was shocked on Sunday to read statements attributed to him, accusing university lecturers of sundry acts of corruption and misconduct; accusations that are clearly out of sync with his style and a blanket condemnation of all lecturers when he himself was once one.

“He has directed the SGF to investigate why an invitation extended to him ended up with the permanent secretary, who took matters into his own hands.

“Seek explanations as to the flouting of the time-honoured rule whereby all speeches to be delivered on behalf of the President are sent to his office for vetting, reworking and sometimes completely rewriting.

“The SGF was also directed to write all ministers to impress on them the imperative of all draft speeches reaching the Office of the President two weeks ahead of any event where he would be represented to allow sufficient time for effective vetting.”


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