On Monday, July 29, 2024, a two-month-long protest by staff and students of the Federal College of Education (Technical) came to a head when the Nigerian Police shot bullets and tear gas at the disgruntled protesters.
The police also arrested 32 staff and students for allegedly damaging five vehicles and the provost’s official quarters.
How did the protest start?
According to a resident of the institution’s staff quarters who requested anonymity, the protests started because the school’s current provost, Dr Ademola Wahab Azeez, was trying to extend his tenure illegally.
Dr Ademola Wahab Azeez
The source also told Zikoko that the protests had started out peaceful until the police shot at protesters at the provost’s orders.
“Dr Azeez resumed office as provost on May 26, 2019, and his four-year tenure should’ve originally ended on May 26, 2023, after which he would’ve been eligible to run for a second term upon election. But, the new act gave him one more year,” she said.
The amended Federal Colleges of Education Act 2023 stipulates a single, non-renewable five-year term for provosts of Federal Colleges of Education. The act came into effect in June 2023, overriding the initial provision of a four-year term renewable upon election (for a maximum of two terms) for the provosts.
The Act partly reads thus, “Provosts with less than five years in office will serve a single term of five years, regardless of their original appointment terms. Those serving a second term at the time the Act was enacted will complete their current four-year term without any extension.”
This meant that Dr Azeez could’ve secured a second four-year term if the re-election had been done in May, before his tenure expired and before the new Act came into effect. However, our source says no re-election took place.
“We expected his tenure to end on May 26, 2024, and an election for a new provost. But he announced that he had no intention of stepping down. That’s why the peaceful protests started on May 28 and happened daily till July 29.”
Allegations of fraud and misconduct
Illegal tenure extension isn’t the only bone staff and students of FCE(T) have to pick with their provost. There are also claims of misconduct, fraud and intimidation.
Oreoluwa, another resident of the school’s staff quarters, told Zikoko that there were several sexual assault reports levelled against Dr Azeez and the Dean of Student Affairs during the initial four-year term, but the provost did nothing.
“Dr Azeez is utterly despotic. No one dares to go against him or utter a word of disagreement with his policies. All sexual assault reports were ignored. He also constantly diverted funds meant for the maintenance and renovation of school buildings. Even the staff of the medical center always complain that he diverted funds meant for the facility, leaving them unable to function effectively.”
Sometime in 2022, staff and students noticed a new building in the school. According to the project details, the building was supposed to be for the “Department of Home Economics.” However, Dr Azeez moved into the building after completion.
During Construction
Now
“It’s illegal. He used government funds to build a residence for himself and his family. His son now uses the flat to host parties.”
A former student also claims they’ve been unable to receive a certificate despite graduating in December 2022 because of the provost’s alleged misappropriation of funds. “FCE(T) runs affiliate programs with some federal universities like UNIBEN. These universities have refused to give graduates their certificates for a while now because the provost still owes them a lot of money. Some people who graduated in 2020 are still in limbo.”
The Minister of Education’s involvement
Some weeks into the daily protests, the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, called for a meeting with the warring parties in Abuja. There, he affirmed the legality of the provost’s second term and called for an end to the protests.
However, this was met with resistance, and the protests continued. Oreoluwa claims this led to the arrest of the Deputy Registrar, Mr Chris Olamiju, by officers of the DSS.
“Olamiju has been one of the protest’s most vocal leaders. DSS broke into his school residence on July 11, 2024, between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. and carted him away amidst the screams of his wife and children. They also shot at the security men and took one of them away too. We even thought they were kidnappers. When we learnt it was DSS, we knew it was Dr Azeez.”
According to Oreoluwa, Azeez denied involvement but must’ve made calls to secure Olamiju’s release that same evening when he realised the situation was getting ugly.
Indefinite closure
The protest came to an abrupt end on July 29 after the police fired shots to disperse the crowd. This has left many students injured, with two reportedly in critical condition at the hospital.
The 32 students and staff arrested by the police were released on July 30 after being made to write an undertaking of good behaviour.
On July 31, the Federal Government directed the indefinite closure of FCE(T) Akoka.
“Step Aside”
According to the Premium Times, the FCE(T) Governing Council has advised Dr Ademola Azeez to “step aside” from his position as provost effective July 31, 2024. This decision was passed through an internal memo with reference FCE/T/AK/RO/IM/2/206 and signed by the College’s Registrar, Mr Rasheed Dada. The Council has now appointed Dr Isaac Oluwatoyin Miller as the acting provost.
This story has been updated to include the provost’s suspension.
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