By Daniel Ayantoye
There are strong indications that the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mal. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq may in the next couple of weeks sack the Rector of the State owned International Aviation College, Ilorin, Engr. Benedict Adeyileka over Corruption Allegations.
A government source in the State made the disclosure to an Ilorin-based news medium, Fresh Insight.
The Governor had earlier on August 5, 2020 appointed a seven-member visitation panel, to look into the activities of the International Aviation College, Ilorin, from inception to date (2008 – 2020).
The Visitation Panel, chaired by Prof. A.G.F. Alabi, was, among others, charged with the responsibility of unraveling the clogs militating against the school’s attainment of financial sustainability, lack of harmonious relationship among the staff and management and recommend way forward.
The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Technology
(MOTEST), Hajia Sa’adatu Moddibo Kawu on Wednesday 5th August, 2020, while inaugurating the Panel, gave the following Terms of Reference (TOR):
1. Identify the strength and problems of the International Aviation College, Ilorin and make appropriate recommendations to the Visitor.
2. Ascertain the operations of various departments of the institution and investigate students’ complaints.
3. Conduct internal audits and ascertain the financial status of the institution since establishment to include the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), external grants and donations, and Kwara State governments’ intervention to the institution.
4. Investigate the award of contracts in the institution and ascertain if due process was adhered to in line with the
Procurement Act 2017.
5. Take inventory of the College facilities and equipment, and determine whether Management auctioning of the College facilities, Aircrafts and equipment are in line with due process of the law, with special respect to approvals from the Visitor.
6. Investigate the state of infrastructure, including all assets and liabilities of the institution.
7. Investigate the relationship between the College and the various regulatory bodies it interacts with according to its laws for purpose of supervision, planning, finance, discipline, and guidance. Such bodies include the Governing Council and other
regulatory bodies like MOTEST, NCAA and Federal Ministry of Aviation
The panel however submitted its recommendations to the Governor recently.
According to the 95 pages report of the committee submitted to the government in September, 2020, a copy of which was exclusively obtained by Fresh Insight, the committee among other things recommended the termination of the appointment of the Rector, Bursar and Auditor among others.
The committee’s findings according to the document reads;
1) Total mismanagement on the part of the Rector which created mistrust within the institution even though he was able to restore the ATO certification and increased student enrollment.
ii. All transactions were not in line with the Procurement Act of 2017 because procurement unit was made ineffective
iii. The Registrar and Head of Training (HOT) advices which were based on the customs and norms of the College were blatantly disregarded by the Rector.
iv. The Bursar was grossly incompetent and operates mostly on verbal instructions.
v. The Internal Auditor was just a rubber stamp and did not have a good grasp of the Colleges Internal Control system.
vi. The College has six (6) Diamond Aircrafts, two (2) of which are serviceable.
vii. The College has two (2) obsolete Bell Helicopters contributed by the Nigerian Navy as part of its Joint Ventures.
viii. The College has two (2) Diamond Aircraft Simulators and one (1) Helicopter Simulator. One of the Diamond Simulators is unserviceable, and the serviceable one is obsolete.
ix. Inventory management is very poor with no proper records.
x. The Panel observes that the Council is not fully constituted
xi. The College has no standard salary structure.
xii. The Panel observes that the College currently runs two (2) programmes; The flight Training and Flight Operation Officers
Training.
OBSERVATIONS/FINDINGS
1. The Panel observed that the Rector has been able to revive the ATO certificate and increase student’s enrolment.
2. The current Rector (Engr. Benedict Adeyileka) is a COREN registered Engineer with requisite experience.
3. The Panel observed that the Rector was on Salary advance for the first six (6) months of his resumption, after which his salary was fixed. However, he was paid for those 6 months after adjusting for all his Salary advances.
4. The current Rector is a contract Staff like his predecessors, however his monthly salary of Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N2,500,000.00) is way above that of his predecessors.
5. The Panel also observed that the Rector is autocratic, divisive, unaccommodating, and reckless with the College finances.
6. The Panel observes that the Rector does not obey some directives from the supervisory Ministry (MOTEST)
7. The panel has also observed that there is a permanent Secretariat Staff and Personal Assistant for the Council Chairman.
8. The Panel observed that the Council Chairman draws a weekly sitting allowance of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N 250,000) Naira which amounts to One Million Naira (N 1,000,000) monthly, on a regular basis.
The committee however recommended as follows, “In view of proven allegations on maladministration and incompetence of the Rector, Bursar and Chief Internal Auditor, it is recommended that the trio be immediately relieved of their appointment and competent members of
Staff in the hierarchy of the College be made to act until substantive personnel are appointed.”
The Rector, Engr. Benedict Adeyileka should be relieved of his post immediately in view of the financial recklessness, bad administration, perpetrating disharmony among staff and autocratic style of leadership. A competent staff in the Hierarchy of the College, Head of Training (HOT) be made to act until substantive Rector is appointed
“A full Council should be immediately constituted for proper management of the College. In view of the bad management and recklessness of the Rector on College’s finances, the panel recommends that the Rector be relieved of his post immediately and the Head of Training (HOT) be made to act until a substantive Rector is appointed.
“The Panel after examining the College Accounting and Financial record recommends that a Statutory Audit of the College finances carried out immediately. After the Statutory Audit is carried out, any Officer found wanting should be made to refund appropriately to the College.
“For sustainability and growth, the College should increase its training activities by affiliating with Kwara State University.
“The full Governing Council of the College should be promptly constituted for effective running of the College. The Council should adhere strictly to the Council sitting or a Function that involves the Council Chairman. In view of this, the Council Chairman should be entitled to allowance only when there is a Council function. There should not be a permanent Secretariat Staff in the Chairman’s Office” it reads.
Meanwhile, Governor AbdulRazaq has appointed a Committee to consider the report of the Visitation Panel.
The eight-member Committee, headed by Prof. Nasir AbdusSalam, will study the report, point up focal issues, and draw up actionable plans on each of the recommendations of the Visitation Panel in a way that would help the government to tackle the issues in the institution.
