A Human Rights group, the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR) has faulted the law establishing the newly University of Ilesa by the Osun State House of Assembly.
The group called for proper review of the law establishing the new University, accused both the House Of Assembly and Osun government of attempting to destroy the future of existing students, alumni, and staff of the Osun State College Of Education Ilesa.
It would recalled that Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in March 31, 2022 announced the upgrade of the State College of Education, Ilesa, to a full-fledged university.
In a letter signed by the state chairman of the CDHR, Comrade Akinrinade Wahab submitted to the office of House of Assembly Speaker, Rt Hon. Timothy Owoeye on Wednesday obtained by THESOURCE called the attention of the governor to the conflict issue.
Akinrinade said, in the speech of the state Governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola on the 10th of November 2022 the presentation of the operating licenses of the university was not inconsistent with the laws that established the institution
“Shall we call your attention to section 36 which stated that “The osun state college of Education Ilesa Law, Cap 97, Vol, V, Laws of Osun State 2002 is hereby repealed” while Mr. Governor said the Establishment of the University was born out of an upgrade according to the speech he delivered on Thursday 10th of November 2022.
“Our dear organization took time to evaluate the position of the executive and the legislative arm of government on the state of the just established University of Ilesa, Osun State, being put into law this year 2022.
“We felt that the state government was only been in a haste to establish the university without the critical study of the process of upgrading a tertiary institution from a College of Education into a University.
“A critical study of the law Establishing the University shows us that the House of Assembly does not put into cognizance the fate of the present students, Alumnus of the College of Education Ilesa, Academic and Non-Academic Staff, which is an indication that the 44th years of the existence of the Ilesa College of Education is inconsistent and cannot be recon with in committees of Colleges
“We will like you to note that the future of the present students, Alumni of the College of Education Ilesa, Osun State, and Academic and Non-Academic Staff is greatly at stake because the law which established the University did not state its plans and projection for them while subjecting their years of meritorious service to be rated as a waste
“We discovered that both the legislative and the Executive arms of Government do not even have a clear and straightforward plan as to if they are Upgrading or Establishment of a New University.
“More so, on the funding, we discovered that the position of the executive and the legislative arm are not in uniform with each other which is an indication that the citizens will be made to pay through their noses if admitted to the university
“The question is, will the citizens of the state be a beneficiary, of the university putting into consideration the per capita income of Osun people
“Mr. Speaker Sir, kindly note that the establishment of a University based on A Public Private Partnership will never advance research neither will it advance technology, because it will be profit-driven, If truly this university is established for the advancement of the Osun People then the Government must be set the hold the bull by the horn
“We will like you to note that the position of the Law on the restriction of staff association and student unionism is an aberration to the true expression that Nigeria is a democratic Nation
“Sir, we will like you to note that Chapter 4 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 as amended states the fundamental Human Right of Nigerians to associate.
“Nigeria Certificate In Education (Nce) Students; We will like you to note that the position of the Law on NIGERIA CERTIFICATE IN EDUCATION (NCE) STUDENTS negates Section 36, which you are aware of, but you choose not to put into cognizance the following: Who will lecture the existing students of the Osun State College of Education Ilesa; Who will sign their Certificates? ; What happens to the Certificates of Alumni of the Osun State College of Education Ilesa” he added
