Over Provost Appointment
A group of staff members from the Ondo State School of Health Technology in Akure are calling on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to put an end to the injustice and marginalization that they have been experiencing for over 22 years. They claim that, during this time, the position of Provost has been filled with medical doctors who are not qualified for the role, while qualified staff members have been overlooked.
In a statement issued by the staff and signed by Oloruntoba Ikuyinminu and Ayodele Yemi, the workers described this as “systematic and institutionalized marginalization” which has been allowed to continue because staff were not willing to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere of the college.
The current Provost’s tenure is set to end on Tuesday, February 6, 2024. The staff members are requesting that Governor Aiyedatiwa correct this anomaly and appoint a qualified individual to the position of Provost. They argue that medical doctors are not suitable for this role, as running an academic environment requires a different skill set than running a hospital.
They voiced their displeasure and called Governor Aiyedatiwa to stop the injustice and appoint one of them who is qualified to oversee the affairs of the School as Provost in line with established laws of the institution as tenure of the current Provost expires on Tuesday (tomorrow).
“His Excellency, Hon. lucky Aiyedatiwa Orimisan, must stop this 22 years of institutionalised marginalization and injustice in the appointment of Provost for our school – Ondo State College of Health Technology, Oda Road, Akure.
“The tenure of the current Provost will expire on February 6, 2024. We are aware of the schemes by Politicians to recommend another medical doctor to the Governor as Provost after over 22 years of their leadership.
“The College is established to train middle-level manpower and professionals such as Public Health Nurses, Environmental Health Technologists, Medical Laboratory Technicians, Pharmacy technicians etc.. And so, academic environment is not the same as the hospital environment.
“Collectively, as staff of this school, we are saying that enough is enough. Moreso, the internal staff are more experienced with better knowledge of the job with better qualifications as well.
“We cannot continue to be led by medical doctors; most of whom are even less qualified in experience and qualifications as well as expertise on the academic job. Running an academic environment differs markedly from the hospital environment.
“This 22-year-old injustice must stop now! His Excellency, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa Orimisan, the peoples’ Governor should please stop this institutionalised marginalization and injustice in the appointment of Provost for our school.
“Our listening Governor should please stop this injustice and appoint one of us who is qualified to head the School as Provost in line with established laws of the institution in fairness and in the interest of justice”, the statement partly reads.
