By Gabriel Dike
A Deputy Registrar at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Dr. Adebola Adekola and the institution are currently at lag ahead over his alleged collection of double salary by the former.
Adekola, the immediate past Registrar, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State insists he is on approved sabbatical leave by the Governing Council and entitled to collect salaries from his parent university and from FUNAAB.
The OOU management told Daily Sun that Adekola has resumed officially from FUNAAB on January 1st, 2024 as deputy registrar.
Daily Sun learnt that after Adekola’s tenure ended, the governing council approved 150 working days leave from October 2, 2023 to June 7th, 2024 and would be paid salaries by FUNAAB. The council also approved sabbatical leave for him from June 8th, 2024 to June 8th, 2025.
A memo obtained by Daily Sun and addressed to Adekola reads: “Kindly be informed of the approval of the governing council of your entitlements at the end of your tenure appointment as registrar on September 30th, 2022. It approved 150 working days accumulated leave and the 2023 annual leave to run between October 2nd, 2023 to June 7th, 2024. During this period, you will be entitled to salaries, allowances and entitlements as registrar.
The July 18th, 2023 memo signed by Bola Adekola reads: “One-year sabbatical leave between June 8th, 2024 to June 7th, 2025 during which you shall continue to be paid your salary as registrar.”
The Registrar of OOU, Mr. Femi Ogunwomoju told Daily Sun that Dr. Adekola is currently a staff of Olabisi Onabanjo University and resumed on Monday, January 1st, 2024.
Ogunwomoju explained that the deputy registrar took leave of absence after his appointment as Registrar of FUNAAB and now being paid by OOU.
But when Daily Sun contacted Adekola, he said he is on sabbatical leave at FUNAAB, stressing, “once you finish your tenure as a principal officer, you are entitled to one year sabbatical leave with salary.”
Adekola, the pioneer Registrar of Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State, adding, “well since I am on sabbatical leave at FUNAAB, the university will pay me and OOU will also pay me. This is what they call double salary.”
Adekola said the usual practice is for staff of any university to apply to their management to release them for the sabbatical leave and that for principal officers, “once you finish your tenure, the governing council will approve accumulated and sabbatical leave.”
He further added: “I don’t need any approval from OOU to go on sabbatical leave. I already have approval of leave of absence from OOU management. When I completed my tenure, I wrote OOU that I have completed my tenure at FUNAAB. Civil service rules do not apply to sabbatical leave.
Adekola revealed that a former VC from Osun State University was paid one year salary on sabbatical leave after completing his tenure and that there some OOU staff in FUNAAB, UNILAG and other institutions that are enjoying double salary.
“My resumption at OOU is just natural. There is nothing ceremonial about being on sabbatical. The important thing is that I have resumed at OOU. Whatever I get from FUNAAB is not their business. Whatever is paid is not part of OOU salary.
“The question is, am I collecting double salaries from OOU. There are lecturers of FUNAAB in OOU, who are being paid the same way. FUNAAB has stepped me down and are paying me the salary of deputy registrar 1.”
“After my assignment, I went on leave and that was when the animosity started. I wrote OOU that I have completed my tenure and will proceed on leave and resume November 13, 2023. Strangely, I got a letter that I should resume on January 1st. I did not contest or ask the university which parts of OOU regulations state that.”
He said it is the ignorance of OOU management because IPPIS would not recognize two registrars in FUNAAB pay roll after his tenure ended and the university had to place him on deputy registrar 1, stating, “it is a general practice in other universities.”
Last week a concerned staff of FUNAAB acting on the Freedom of Information Act sought the reaction of OOU management on some observations about Adekola as contained in a letter dated July 18, 2023 signed by him.
The FUNAAB staff also sought to confirm from OOU management the rumour making the rounds that Dr. Adekola has resumed at his parent university.
The concerned staff informed OOU that he is in possession of a letter written by Dr. Adekola as Registrar of FUNAAB, which was addressed to him and claimed some entitlements after the completion of his term.
“Currently, he is earning salary and allowances at FUNAAB as Deputy Registrar 1. We are currently investigating this case under the Freedom Information Act.”
The FUNAAB staff asked OOU to confirm if Adekola had fully resumed as full time staff of the university with all his rights and privileges, including payment of his salary and allowances restored back to him.
Senior OOU staff told Daily Sun that Adekola by records from FUNAAB ought to be on leave (accumulated) and receive his salary from FUNAAB.
“Going by the memo, which himself signed, he will finish his leave by June 8, 2024 and wondered why he worriedly resumed work at OOU and is currently collecting two salaries.”
The source said Adekola received a monthly salary as deputy registrar from OOU for January, February, March, April and most likely in May and same thing at FUNAAB as Deputy Registrar 1.