Union leaders at the Adeyemi Federal College of Education (ACE), Ondo, have given President Muhammadu Buhari one-month ultimatum to upgrade the institution to a “full-fledged University”. 

The unionists, who are members of the Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education (SSUCOEN), Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Associated Institutions (NASU), National Association of Colleges of Education Academic Technologists of Nigeria (NACEATON), made the demand at a Tuesday joint congress held on the campus.

In January 2022, Mr Buhari had assented to the bill to establish the Adeyemi Federal University of Education in Ondo State. 

Peoples Gazette was told that the president’s assent repealed the law establishing Adeyemi Federal College of Education, thereby upgrading it to the status of a university.

Speaking after the joint congress, NASU Chairman in the school, Paul Akinjide, wondered why the College of Education which was upgraded to a University status, through an official gazette, has not yet become a university.

Mr Akinjide told our reporter before issuing a communique, that the aggrieved workers were also “unhappy” that the Buhari-led federal government had yet to appoint a vice-chancellor for the institution after it had been upgraded to a university. 

“By implication, ACE, Ondo, no longer exists and Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo ought to have taken effect from Thursday 23rd December, 2021.

“The Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette, No. 4, Vol. 19, Lagos – 7th January, 2022, recognized Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo (Establishment) Act, 2021(pages A29-69). By this Act, the law establishing Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo had been repealed. 

“In spite of the above, the expected and eagerly anticipated take off of AFUED did not happen. 

“Six months into the new status, neither the Governing Council of ACE, Ondo nor the Management has explained to the College community what is delaying the implementation,” he explained. 

According to him, the failure to upgrade the status of the institution has led the governing council to approve the reappointment of the College Provost and Registrar which is at variance with the new status of the institution as a university. 

Mr Akinjide further explained that the council should have carried along the college community in arriving at such a critical decision.

“Second schedule, sections 24 (8) and 27 (5) under Transfer of Functions, item 2: states “the person who are members of the Provisional Council are deemed to constitute until the date when the Council as set up under the Third Schedule to this Act shall have been duly constituted” (A56). Therefore, the Official Gazette empowers the Governing Council to still continue in office as the Council of the University but not as Council of College of Education,” he said. 

The NASU Chairman, however, demanded the immediate takeoff of the University as assented into law by president Buhari with effect.

“The immediate reversal of the reappointment of the Provost and the College Registrar for a second term. The Official Gazette should be fully implemented with immediate effect. The immediate appointment of a Vice Chancellor for the University. 

“One month’s notice is hereby given to the federal government to effect the implementation of the recommendations of the Joint Congress of the Unions,” Mr Akinjide further demanded in a phone chat. 

The bill to upgrade the ACE into the Adeyemi Federal University of Education was sponsored by the member representing Ondo East and West federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Abiola Makinde.

It was later passed by the House of Representatives on July 23, 2021, and also by the Senate on October 13, 2021, before it was signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly on 25th November, 2021.