Some elated members of Staff at the meeting

Apparently impressed by the Council’s noticeable commitment to move the University forward within a short period of time, the Vice-Chancellor added that based on his interaction with Chairman and members of Council and their track record, he was confident that FUNAAB was on course. He therefore re-committed himself to utmost fairness, transparency, accountability and justice. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole, had earlier commended the composition of the recently constituted Council. “It is a new beginning and we are on a mission to rebuild FUNAAB”, he declared. He admonished members of staff further, “Regard us as one of you, we are going to work together.  It is our University. We must do it together so that at the end of the day we will be able to leave our mark on the sand of time”.  “We are here to serve you and add value to what you’ve done, I therefore, congratulate the entire staff and past and the present leaders of the University, you have done well”, he declared. Advising against fraud, Senator Ogunlewe said, “I have heard cases of fraud and this is not good for us.  If you indulge in it, they will catch you.  You can escape for a while but once they catch you, it is a disgrace to you and your family”.  “If others are doing it, don’t join them because it is not profitable.  Therefore, work with honesty, because what will come will come, don’t jump the queue because you can jump into fire”, he added. The Pro-Chancellor assured members of staff that the Council would run an open door policy in the interest of transparency and understanding.  In demonstration of his promise of transparency, he immediately gave out his mobile phone line and e-mail address to the cheering staff, who stored them with admiration.  Senator Ogunlewe stated that having laid the Council bare for staff, he expected them to reciprocate the gesture by shunning strike for dialogue whenever there were issues to iron out.  His words, “I don’t want any strike on issues we can discuss together”. Senator Ogunlewe who disclosed that the Council had earlier in the day met with the Executives of Unions in the University, stressed that based on the outcome of the parley, the Council would improve on welfare, especially in the areas of promotion and self-development.  He however warned that promotion to the next level would no longer be automatic for those who went on study leave, pointing out that such staff should be ready to compete with others when vacancies were advertised. Senator Ogunlewe pointed out that if it was possible for the University of Lagos for example, to attract multimillion dollars for the Centre of Excellence Capital Project, it was not impossible for FUNAAB under the new Council, to facilitate same for the University.  He disclosed that members of the Council had already resolved to use their linkages with Federal Ministries to attract projects and other benefits for the University.  The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the University Governing Council, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, earlier this week, told Members of staff that the recently appointed Council members were not in FUNAAB to chase contracts, but to serve them meritoriously and diligently.  Speaking at the maiden meeting with the institution’s members of staff, Senator Ogunlewe said members of the Council were highly connected and stupendously comfortable and that the entire budget of the University was small, when compared with their personal economic status.  Consequently, he stated that it would be erroneous for any member of staff to think that the politicians have come again to embezzle the University’s funds.  According to him, “You will ask yourself, why have they appointed those politicians again?  They have come to steal our money again.  We are not comfortable with them.  Let me say you can never be as lucky to have this illustrations Nigerians that have paid their dues as Council Chairman and members”.  “We are not looking for contracts.  Which contracts are we looking for?  What is your budget that you are worrying about?  Don’t bother yourself about gossip.  We are here to serve you.  All your problems are solved”, he assured.