THE Provost, Kwara State College of Education (Technical), Lafiagi, Alhaji Ishiak Bonni Alhassan at the weekend opened up on the controversy trailing the tenure of the College’s Registrar, Alhaji Mohammed Yakubu who has been accused of perpetuating himself in the office.

Alhassan told Pilot Education on Saturday that the embattled Registrar’s tenure extension was approved by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed via State Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Technology.

Recall that last week, academic and non-academic activities were paralysed at the institution following a three-day warning strike embarked upon by staff of the institution to protest the alleged plot by the retiring Registrar of the college after the end of his tenure of five years.

The staff under the aegis of Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education of Nigeria (SSUCOEN) and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) alleged that Yakubu, whose tenure had expired on May 30th, 20015 and expected to attain his mandatory 35 years of service in July, had returned as a contract Registrar in the college against the college edict.

In a statement jointly issued by SSUCOEN and COEASU Chairmen, Adebayo Bolaji Sikiru and Jimoh Yekeen respectively, the unions alleged that the ”strike was necessitated by the unlawful attempt of the registrar to perpetuate himself in office against the letters and content of the edict establishing the college.”

However, the Provost explained that the embattled Registrar had written him intimating him on the expiration of his five years tenure on May 30 and subsequent terminal leave having attained compulsory mandatory retirement service year of 35.

Alhassan further said that an Acting Registrar had been appointed, but Yakubu later wrote the College’s parent Ministry of Tertiary Education for tenure extension on contract basis, a request approved by the governor via the ministry.

He however asked the union leaders to embrace dialogue to avoid strike which may tamper with the examinations of the students.

The Provost, who in telephone chat with Pilot Education, said: “The Registrar’s tenure of five years ended on May 30, 2015.

He tendered the letter of end of tenureship and intention to proceed on terminal leave because he’s to retire July 30 this year too.

We accepted the letters and sought for approval from Ministry of Tertiary Education before we can appoint the most Senior Deputy Registrar in the department. We later appointed Acting Registrar from the department.

He (Embattled Registrar) later wrote to the ministry seeking re-appointment on contract basis, which was approved by His Excellency.

I was mandated to write him after the approval of His Excellency through the Head of Service through the Ministry of Tertiary Education.

I did as directed and I have given him the letter.

“The state government approved it and it was back dated to May, 30, 2015 and that was what we conveyed to him. But the unions are saying they are not satisfied.

They said he can only re-apply on the contract basis after he has reached mandatory retirement, later in the month.

Others said the post should be advertised for people to apply before appointment is made.

“We met with them (Union leaders) and the Ministry intervened too before they called the three-day warning strike off incidentally on Friday.

We have appealed to them to dialogue with us because we don’t want anything that would affect the examination of the student.”