By: Oriola Afolabi.
Members of Staff, Federal University Oye Ekiti, FUOYE have expressed joy following the decision of the management to give them easy access to transportation and other welfare packages which they described as unprecedented in the history of the university.
Some of those who spoke on the new development said it would not only save their cost of transportation but also improve the staff performances, reduce lateness to office and the stress they often go through before getting to office and their various homes.
The Excited FUOYE workers most of whom residing in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital said the new leadership appeared to be walking the talk of prioritizing the workers welfare due to another bold step taken by the VC in a circular which stated that all academic activities in the University should be closed by five O’clock in the evening for workers to have enough time to rest and prepare for the next day.
Two of the staff who simply identified themselves as Tosin and Shade said the decision was a great relief and a huge departure from what is obtainable in the past, as such would give them time to take good care of themselves and their families.
Another worker, Mr. Dare prayed that such unprecedented welfare packages by the new Vice Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Fasina should continue and urged him not to be deterred from taking good decisions that would place the university on the world record of academic excellence.
Radio Nigeria correspondent who visited the Christ School Ado Ekiti, where some of the staff of FUOYE residing in the state capital usually board the staff bus observed that many of them who often go to office in their vehicles parked them at the premises of Former WEAC office only to join the coastal bus in order to save cost on transportation.
In their comments, some staff waiting to board the vehicle said “Honestly, the university management took a very good decision” God bless the new VC, I hope the new things would continue”.
Others including Tosin, Ogundare, Tope described the management welfare scheme on transportation as a welcome development and prayed that such continue.
“Some decisions taken so far by Professor Fasina are still favourable and I believe if given support he would do more. “One of the things I like most is a circular indicating that all academic activities should be closed by 5pm, this will give us time to rest and even take good care of our family”
In a telephone interview with the University’s Union Leaders, the Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Mr. Yekeen Oyelude appreciated the new Vice Chancellor’s leadership style which he said placed workers welfare above personal interest and urged Professor Fasina to extend such gesture to other staff in Itapa and Ikole campuses.
“Sincerely, the VC started on a good note and we pray that he will sustain this and even address other issues affecting the staff” we have been clamouring before now that management should subsidise the transportation for staff, but previous administrations were unable to achieve this, however within two weeks, the new management under the VC , Professor Abayomi Fasina achieved this, it is a sign of good leadership, I pray he will continue this way”
Mr. Oyelude listed other things that could give Staff sense of belonging to include provision of Staff school, well equipped health centre and periodic promotion, adding that with these, all staff would not only be grateful, but always be ready to give in their best.
The FUOYE’s SSANU Chairman assured the unflinching support of members to the current management, as he pointed out that it was too early to judge an administration which would run for five years but observed that what they saw was really commendable.
His Counterparts from NASU, Mr. Ayodele Ojumoola observed that the administration of Professor Abayomi Fasina had started on a good note.
“It is heavy for me to be judging the administration that will last for five years but we are still satisfied with the steps taken so far, especially the various Committees set up to look into welfare of staff, those sacked unjustly, other issues which are of great concern to the union leaders”
“I believe when the Committees submit their reports and recommendations, it will be implemented to the letter because some have been really cheated in the past”
“The new management led by the new VC, Professor Fasina is doing fine, we want him to extend the transport welfare to other staff in Ikole campus, he is doing a great reorganization, restructuring and placing the right people in the right positions, it is commendable, we hope he will sustain this, especially this issue of transport we don’t want it to stop at all, we pray that God will continue to lead him alright”
Mr. Ojumoola said that the Union Leaders were happy to see the new era promoting workers’ welfare as promised and urged the leadership not to relent in the efforts to make the university great.
In February this year when Professor Abayomi Fasina took over the mantle of leadership in FUOYE, he promised to prioritize staff welfare, academic excellence and improve on infrastructures met on ground. Recent developments in the university have begun to speak to the fact that the Vice Chancellor mean business, while staff expressed joy at his emergence as VC , describing such as right peg in the right hole.
The FUOYE Vice Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Fasina said that he would do everything possible within his capacity to place the university on a world map of good academic records.
