A deepening leadership crisis has gripped the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), where allegations of sabotage, political maneuvering, and institutional paralysis are threatening the stability of the institution.
At the center of the storm is the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olubunmi Shittu, who, according to multiple senior insiders, is being deliberately undermined by the university’s Pro-Chancellor, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, and the suspended Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Fasina, with the active support of some key university officials.
Since assuming office, Prof. Shittu has reportedly been left without crucial briefing documents and official handovers that should guide his leadership. In some cases, officers allegedly ignored his invitations outright, leaving governance processes stalled.
“The system is practically shut down,” one senior official told Standard Daily Press, describing Shittu’s tenure so far as “like walking blindfolded.”
A VC Without a Hand Over
Prof. Shittu stepped in after Prof. Fasina’s suspension over controversies, including sexual harassment allegations raised by Engr. Olusola Folasade Adebayo. But insiders say he started his tenure “like a blind man,” receiving neither structured briefing nor cooperation.
“He neither lobbied for the position nor applied for it,” another source said. “But since assuming office, he has faced hell from both Ndoma-Egba and Fasina.”
Shadow Influence in Appointments
By tradition, leadership positions in FUOYE rotate on August 1 each year. The Acting VC supervised the exercise, but allegations soon emerged that Prof. Fasina, despite being suspended, had forwarded lists of his preferred candidates for Deans, Directors, and Heads of Department.
Several of those names later appeared as winners in the elections or as nominees, raising doubts about the credibility of the process.
When Shittu convened a meeting to review the results, he reportedly conceded to some objections but refused to endorse irregular appointments. Among the issues was the continued occupation of director roles by non-professors who had overstayed beyond the regulation of one or two years.
Registrar’s Defiance and Escalating Tensions
On July 31, 2025—the final day to announce appointments—the Registrar went ahead to publish the contested lists, a move seen by insiders as a direct attempt to undermine the Acting VC’s authority.
The Bursar, Mrs. Adebola Debo-Ajagunna, also wrote to object, claiming she was not consulted on the financial implications. Prof. Shittu dismissed the argument, explaining that these were routine rotations with no new financial impact, since entitlements are tied to positions, not individuals.
Pro-Chancellor Steps In
The tension escalated when Ndoma-Egba wrote to Shittu on July 31, ordering that all staff postings be suspended pending clarification. But Shittu pushed back, insisting on due process as outlined in FUOYE’s regulations.
Pages 44–45 of the university’s conditions of service, approved in 2022, clearly state that the Vice-Chancellor is empowered to appoint Heads of Department and Deans after proper consultations.
By August 4, Ndoma-Egba lifted the suspension on appointments, except for the Procurement Officer’s posting, citing Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) compliance concerns tied to ongoing TETFund projects.
University at a Crossroads
Despite the partial resolution, insiders say the crisis has exposed deep divisions within FUOYE’s top management. Rival power blocs are now entrenched, and the administrative machinery remains weakened.
“Unless urgent intervention is made, the university risks being plunged into deeper chaos,” one senior staff member told Standard Daily Press, warning of damage to staff morale and academic stability.
Background of Controversies
This is not the first time governance disputes have rocked FUOYE. Standard Daily Press previously reported that Ndoma-Egba and Fasina were accused of manipulating recruitment processes and bending regulations to favor loyalists. Positions such as Directors of Works and Physical Planning were allegedly filled in violation of experience requirements, fueling distrust among staff and academics.
Now, with FUOYE caught in a storm of sabotage, power struggles, and contested authority, the institution’s future hangs in the balance.
