The Students’ Union Government (SUG) of Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti State, Nigeria has described a three-day ultimatum given to the university management by the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN)to compel Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina to abdicate office and the removal of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba as a joke taking too far, describing the youth organisation as unnecessary interlopers.
Instead, the FUOYE SUG described itself as not only a stakeholder in the affairs of the university but “the authentic voice”
of the students community with a clear mandate “to protect the image, integrity, and operational stability of our beloved institution.”
Specifically, the SUG described as an unwholesome insults being passed by the NYCN on the university management and its Council when it said the Governing Council Chairman, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), and Prof. Fasina turned the university into their “personal empire.”
This, it described a s a grave, unfounded
insult to the professional integrity of the Council and its members.
Also, NYCN’s claim that FUOYE “is the epicentre of disturbing governance decay” was nothing but a profound misrepresentation of “our lived reality.”
However, in a petition entitled “formal rebuital and condemnation of the misleading petition by the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ekiti State
Chapter regarding, the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor at the Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE)” and forwarded to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the SUG described the petition by the NYCN as null and void and of no effect.
Copies of the SUG’s petition were forwarded to the Executive Governor of Ekiti State,
The Honourable Minister for Education,
The Honourable Minister for Youth Development,
The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), FUOYE Governing Council Chairman, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN),
The FUOYE Vice- Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina,
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Nigeria Defence Headquarters,
The Director, Department of State Services (DSS) Nigeria, The Inspector General of Police (IGP),
The Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence,
The Chairman, Economic and Financial Crime Commission and
The Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission(ICPC).
It said: “The Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), representing the entire and authentic voice of the student community, writes responsibly and clearly to protect the image, integrity, and operational stability of our beloved institution.
“We begin by conveying our profound gratitude to Your Excellency for your decisive leadership, particularly for the NELFUND initiative.
“This transformative scheme has proven to be a watershed moment in the education sector, successfully safeguarding the academic future of thousands of our members who benefit from this student loan scheme.
“Furthermore, we commend your timely intervention on recent industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Your leadership prevented a disruptive crisis, safeguarding the academic calendar, and demonstrating your administration’s commitment to the Nigerian student.
“We wish Your Excellency well as you continue to pilot the affairs of our great nation.
“However, with deep regret and strong condemnation, we address the misleading and politically motivated petition recently submitted by the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ekiti Chapter.
“We unequivocally reject the entirety of their submission as baseless and an unwarranted attempt to destabilise the academic environment we have fought hard to maintain.
“The NYCN is an external organisation whose recent activities suggest an alliance with disgruntled elements, not in the interests of FUOYE students.
“The claim that FUOYE is the “epicentre of disturbing governance decay” is a profound misrepresentation of our lived reality.
“Over the past few years, the FUOYE environment, under the current Governing Council and Administration, has enjoyed unprecedented stability.
“We specifically praise the tenure of the outgoing Vice- Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, which has been defined by a focus on student welfare, peace, and progress.
“Students highly appreciate his tenure for unprecedented infrastructural expansion, improved student welfare services, and securing accreditation for numerous programmes.
“His consistent efforts ensured a stable academic calendar, devoid of strike actions, which is paramount to the Nigerian student.
“The assertion that the Governing Council Chairman, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), and Prof. Fasina turned the university into their “personal empire” is a grave, unfounded insult to the professional integrity of the Council and its members.
“This body is mandated by law to provide governance and oversight, a responsibility we believe they have exercised in the best interest of the institution’s progress and stability.
“The NYCNs petition is regrettably built on widely circulated, yet discredited, claims that form a persistent campaign of calumny against the university.
” We state categorically, as stakeholders who monitor the university environment, that the sensational allegations regarding a N128 million “research leave” for the VC and the N700 million property acquisitions are factually untrue.
“The university management has repeatedly and publicly debunked these precise lies.
“We urge Your Excellency’s office to perform its own fact-check; these claims are being recklessly used by disgruntled elements to deceive the public and must be disregarded.
“The decision of the Council to hold sensitive committee meetings in a secure, central location like Abuja is a strategic, lawful administrative measure.
“This ensures the necessary neutrality. security, and full participation of all distinguished members during high-stakes deliberations, particularly the complex VC selection process.
“To label approved statutory logistics costs as “financial sabotage” constitutes a malicious exaggeration and betrays a fundamental ignorance of public service governance.
“The NYCN’s insinuation that the ongoing process is “Illegal and manipulated” based on its two-week timeline is baseless and seeks to impose an arbitrary standard.
“The timeline, while efficient, adheres strictly to the minimum requirements stipulated by the University (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, which is the guiding law. Comparing this efficient, cost-saving schedule to the six-to-eight-week timelines of older, larger institutions like the University of Ibadan or University of Lagos is an invalid comparison and an attempt to impose unnecessary delays.
“The Council’s decision is one of fiscal prudence and administrative efficiency, designed to avoid costly delays and ensure a seamless handover, not a “scripted coronation.”
scripted coronation.”
“The Students’ Union Government maintains an absolute zero-tolerance stance against any form of immorality, intimidation, or sexual exploitation on our campus.
“We view the safety of our members as our highest priority.
“As the duly elected representatives, we have been and continue to be fully on the ground, offering support to all our members.
“We confirm that the SUG was the body that raised the alarm on a recent case and ensured the matter was brought to the appropriate university authorities.
“This issue is receiving the appropriate, rigorous attention it requires in the interest of our members.
“We caution against the NYCN’s attempt to use sensationalised, unverified media reports to undermine the Governing Council.
“The Council’s role is to ensure that due process is followed under the Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institutions (Prohibition) Act, 2021.
“To claim that the Council actively suppressed statutory investigations is a dangerous accusation, particularly when their actions are confined to ensuring institutional procedures, not cover-ups.
“We demand that justice be pursued through established, factual channels, not through public slander.
“The current instability at FUOYE is not organic; it is being manufactured externally by political actors whose self-serving interest is to overturn a lawful process.
“This pattern of destabilisation was clearly evident a couple of weeks ago when the university management raised the alarm about certain individuals, masquerading as “concerned university Senate members,” who attempted to hijack the university Senate to effect illegal changes.
“The NYCN petition is merely the latest strategy in this coordinated effort to cause confusion and seize control.
“We must also bring to Your Excellency’s attention the imminent and manufactured security risk posed by these petitioners.
“We unequivocally condemn any planned protest by the NYCN or its affiliates as a clear attempt to disrupt our peace.
“We have just admitted over ten thousand young Nigerians as fresh students from across the country.
“These new members are unfamiliar with the environment and are inherently vulnerable in this situation.
“We assert that only firm, decisive, and transparent action can restore and protect the confidence of the Nigerian youth.
” We appeal to Your Excellency, the Visitor to FUOYE, to order the following actions:
l. Direct the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and all relevant security agencies to secure the FUOYE campus and its environs immediately.
“This must be done to protect our students, especially the vulnerable freshers, against any external security threats orchestrated by the NYCN or any disgruntled political body.
2. Discountenance the NYCN petition in Its entirety, as it is fundamentally misleading and intended only to destabilise the institution for selfish interests.
“Reject the demand for the suspension of all current Council activities related to the Vice- Chancellorship process, thereby upholding the statutory autonomy of the Governing Council.
“Direct the Governing Council to continue and conclude the lawful Vice Chancellorship selection process immediately.
“Reaffirm confidence in the Governing Council to manage the transition in line with federal law.
“We stand with the Governing Council and in their efforts to uphold integrity and complete the transition peacefully.”