The investigative committee on the leadership crisis rocking the Osun State College of Education, Ila Orangun, has reversed the suspension of the provost, Prof Jimoh Afolabi and ordered status quo ante pending the outcome of the probe.
The governing council of the college had suspended the provost over alleged misappropriation of funds.
However, at its meeting chaired by the committee chairman who is also the chief of staff to the governor, Hon. Kazeem Akinleye, according to a release by the spokesperson to the governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, both the council and the management were directed to revert to state of affairs before the eruption of the crisis.
It was learnt that after almost four hours of presentations by both parties, the committee instructed both the provost and the governing council chairman to avoid further escalation either through media war or litigation.
Akinleye reminded the principal officers of the college’s enabling law, the public service financial regulations and the oath of office they took upon their appointments.
“We also don’t want the crisis to paralyse the school. Any protracted leadership crisis can disrupt academic activities and even the peace of the Ila Orangun community.
“At the same time, we want to ensure protection of public funds. We have made far reaching recommendations to prevent any future re-occurrence of such infighting and confrontation”, he said after the meeting.
The governing council chairman, Dr Peter Babalola, the provost, Prof Jimoh Afolabi and other top officials of the attended the committee hearing.
