The Presidency, through the National Salaries,
Incomes and Wages Commission, has directed
the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University,
Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko, to
refund over payment of salaries running into
millions of naira.
The Registrar of the university, David Suowari,
was also directed to refund cumulatively the
sum of N130, 692.71 per month in excess of
his due salary.
The over payments were said to have been
discovered during the commission’s visit to the
institution on May 12, 2015 to carry out an
inspection of FUO’s remuneration practices vis-
a-vis the extant government’s pay policy.
The VC and the registrar were accused of
appropriating certain allowances to themselves
which were not approved by the government.
These concerns were raised in a letter from the
NSIWC to Aluko, signed for the Chairman of the
Commission by the Director of Compensation,
Chike Ogbechie.
The commission said, “The findings of the
inspection in respect of your institution
(Federal University, Otuoke) were as follow:
“The Vice-Chancellor was being paid total
emoluments of N1,970,476.76 monthly,
whereas he should not earn more than
N922,810.23 if he were paid furniture
allowance en bloc earlier, or N1,043,176.79 if
he were being paid furniture allowance.
“Much of the difference was attributed to
certain allowances which were not approved by
the government.”
In the case of the registrar, the commission
said he was being paid N130,692.71 in excess
of his due salary of N502,580.25.
The commission also said the university
disaggregated its staff salaries against the
government’s policy of pay consolidation.
The NSIWC, therefore, directed the university
to stop “the wrongful practices” and comply
with relevant rules and rates.
The commission added, “We hereby direct the
vice-chancellor and the registrar to refund the
cumulative overpayments made to them.
“You are to report to the commission in
writing, your compliance with this directive
within four weeks of this letter.”
It will be recalled that Prof. Mobolaji Aluko
became the Vice-Chancellor of the university in
February 2011.
But reacting to the commission’s position,
Aluko said in a text message to our
correspondent that there was neither
disaggregation of salaries nor overpayment of
salaries.
The vice-chancellor said, “Rather, pension and
health insurance allowances were due to three
of us, Diaspora Vice-Chancellors who are on
Sabbatical from our foreign universities, and
co-paid monthly in naira to us for payment to
those foreign universities.
“Without that concession occurring, our own
local salaries would have been wiped out
completely, and we could not have accepted
the job.”
Aluko wondered why the issue was coming up
in the fifth and final year of their tenure.
“However, the need for accountability is
welcome, and Salaries and Wages Commission
will be fully reconciled to the full facts,” the VC
stated.

“Much of the difference was attributed tocertain allowances which were not approved by the government.”

Diaspora Vice-Chancellors who are on
Sabbatical from our foreign universities, and
co-paid monthly in naira to us for payment to
those foreign universities.
“Without that concession occurring, our ownlocal salaries would have been wiped out
completely, and we could not have accepted
the job.”

Kul3ger:
War against corruption has just begun....

Let's all support change...100 likes for change

Kul3ger:
War against corruption has just begun....

Let's all support change...100 likes for change

ascaris:
The over payments were said to have been
discovered during the commission’s visit to the
institution on May 12, 2015 to carry out an
inspection of FUO’s remuneration practices vis-
a-vis the extant government’s pay policy.
I wonder what you people will be writing when PMB will make just one achievement in office.

omenka:
I have this queer feeling that excess amount goes into someone else's pocket- maybe the ex-president's wife.

Baba, purge the system right down to the lowest ranking clerk in the federal secretariat. Let there be no sacred cow.

ascaris:
The over payments were said to have been
discovered during the commission’s visit to the
institution on May 12, 2015 to carry out an
inspection of FUO’s remuneration practices vis-
a-vis the extant government’s pay policy.
I wonder what you people will be writing when PMB will make just one achievement in office.

Dollyak:
This kind of crusade is a red herring to give the impression of agressive anti corruption operation. Why not go after the big fish who are earning billions? This kind of money is not worth his time and is better left for efcc.

I think we should help your comprehension by stating that the Salaries and Wages commission discovered this anomaly. What do you then expect them to do? Leave it because it is yet to be in billions?

RockMaxi:





I think we should help your comprehension by stating that the Salaries and Wages commission discovered this anomaly. What do you then expect them to do? Leave it because it is yet to be in billions?