Commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology(AFIT) Kaduna, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Olabisi Olayinka, has come under severe attacks over his alleged serial administrative lapses and financial malfeasance in the management of the institution.

In a petition  dated August 5, to the Chief of the Air Staff  and copied the presidency, which was obtained by DAILY ASSET, the civilian staff of the University alleged that the Commandant in flagrant breach of  the Presidential order on suspension of employment proceeded to employ 441 staff.

They alleged that the recruitment was  without regard for due process, since the vacancies were not advertised in the national dailies as required by law.

The  academic and non- academic civilian staff claimed that these “handpicked employees,” were paid two months’ salaries (April and May) “without evidence of an appointment letter, acceptance of employment, or letter of deployment to their departments.” 

The staff claimed that the  Heads of department in the university were not even consulted on what they described as  “clandestine and nepotism-driven employment” adding,  “most of these employees are family associates and friends of the Commandant.”

“This unfortunate caricature of an employment process, is in contravention of the Federal Character Commission guidelines and other regulations guiding employment under Federal Tertiary institutions.

The petitioners also alleged that the new staff were purportedly hired when the entire country was under lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic and there was no immediate need for their services.

And to worsen matters, the staff alleged that the newly recruited staff were being paid higher than those already in the employ of the institution.

 For instance, they alleged that, whereas a Graduate Assistant  of 20 months with confirmation of appointment earned N88,000 Monthly, his colleague recently recruited for three Months earned N103,000.

Similarly, an Assistant Lecturer of 20 months experience  with confirmation of appointment earned N117,448, while his colleague recently employed in the past three months earned N122,000.

This situation, they lamented was also applicable in the other senior academic ranks.

“There is an indication that in collaboration of IPPIS and the AFIT commandant, IPPIS has paid salary to ghost workers to the number of 441. These 441 persons do not have appointment letters, nor acceptance of employment, no deployment to any department and no documentation,” they claimed.

In the petition also, the staff  alleged that Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Olabisi Olayinka was engaged in reckless spending of the Institution’s funds without without recourse to basic financial rules and regulations. “The commandant in mid-April, awarded contracts without due process and without open tenders, which is an infraction of the Bureau for Public Procurement Act 2007.

“In many of these cases, the contracts were awarded to family members. Apart from that, variations were illegally granted to the companies, raising costs outrageously far above normal levels. 

They citedan instance in which, a  contract valued at the sum of over N70million  was awarded without due process for painting of the institute.

In the said contract, the staff alleged that the Commandant’s son, Engr. Yusuf Olabisi was the supplier of the paints and other materials.

“In addition, the contract to feed military students was awarded to the wife of the commandant Mrs. Olabisi in addition to the contract to supply items like hand sanitizers and rice to staff during the Salah celebration,” the staff further alleged.

The staff contended that painting contract was a misplaced priority by the Commandant in a situation where there institution lacked insufficient lecture rooms, staff offices, practical laboratories amongst others.

“We consider the spending of N70 million on painting of old and dilapidated buildings as a colossal waste of public funds targeted towards embezzlement,” the staff stated.

Alleging administrative breaches, the staff accused AVM Olayinka  of failure to convene a single Senate meeting of the University since his assumption of office on January 1, 2020, whereas the meeting was supposed to be held monthly by law.

“The University established its Senate Conveyance and unanimously agreed by senate members that the last Thursday of every month shall be the meeting of the senate. 

“For the past five months, the Commandant has failed to convene the senate despite repeated request by the registrar. 

“The implications of his failure to convene senate meetings are as follows:

Non-approval and consideration of 200 level first semester results; Inability of the senate to meet and deliberate on pending issues concerning the management of the university; Lack of direction for the university; Students complaints and challenges requiring senate approval are pending; Students issues of deferment, exam malpractices and indiscipline are yet to be resolved” the document stated.

The petitioners regretted that the Commandant had instead, been holding management meetings and implementing decisions without waiting for senate approval.

“This calibre of leadership is totally foreign to a conventional university management,” they stated.

Besides, the staff alleged that student departmental dues amounting to N15million meant for running costs of the various departments were held by the Commandant thereby stalling smooth running of the academic departments and Directorates.

Efforts by DAILY ASSET to speak with officials of the institute were rebuffed as our Correspondents were prevented entrance by security officials when their mission was disclosed to the security personnel at the main gate.