Ekiti Poly Rector Dismisses Report Of N1bn Bitcoin Investment

*We Never Raise Such Allegation ― ASUP

The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Dr Hephzibah
Oladebeye, has described as false and malicious the report of his
involvement in a N1 billion Bitcoin investment.

The Rector spoke in Ado-Ekiti, on Thursday, while reacting to
the demonstration embarked upon by members of the institution’s
Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), on Tuesday, over
non-payment of Part-time claims (Pt claims)

The ASUP Chairman, Dr Olabisi Olasehinde, had informed Tribune
Online, Not Nairalaw that the lecturers embarked on the
peaceful demonstration and disruption of students examination over
the management’s inability to pay their outstanding
entitlements.

He denied reports that the union accused the Rector of
investment money in the popular cryptocurrency platform Bitcoin,
saying, “I don’t know where that is coming from, it was not part of
the issues we raised during the protest.”

Oladebeye while speaking, on Thursday, said that the agitations
of ASUP were being addressed by the management, adding that the
delay in the payment of their entitlements which caused the
demonstration had been resolved.

Condemning the protest, the Rector said: “Article 23.1 of the
civil service rule that guides ASUP stipulated that before academic
staff can proceed on a protest, they must declare an industrial
dispute and gives the management 21 days ultimatum, followed by
another seven days.

“Protesting when such provision was not followed was gross
misconduct according to civil service rule. I knew they were out to
disparage my person because that was not a protest, but hooliganism
in closing down the school gate.

“Now, the executive of ASUP have received alerts of their Pt
claims and other lecturers taking part-time lecturing, they must
give peace a chance and allow the examinations to continue.

” I don’t know anything about Bitcoin, it is not even possible
with the TSA and IPPIS of the Federal Government. Nobody can have
access to the polytechnic money.”

Meanwhile, the Alumni of the Polytechnic has appealed to ASUP to
cooperate with the Rector to develop the institution, saying
resorting to blackmail over an issue that could be resolved
amicably would affect the school rating.

The National President, Alumni Association, Mr Abiodun Oyedokun,
said the Rector has done excellently well in the areas of staff
welfare like promotion, loans and payment of allowances.

“The Pt claim is not for our lecturers alone, some of the
lecturers were from other schools. ASUP must have pity on the
students who are running out of cash and food on campus. We don’t
want the public to perceive this institution as unserious, which
can affect our ranking.

“We appeal to ASUP to stop creating tension and making this
institution to look as if we are in turmoil. We will try our best
to mediate and restore stability, but we won’t allow the image of
this institution to be soiled by those fighting personal battles,”
he said.

*We Never Raise Such Allegation ― ASUP

The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Dr Hephzibah
Oladebeye, has described as false and malicious the report of his
involvement in a N1 billion Bitcoin investment.

The Rector spoke in Ado-Ekiti, on Thursday, while reacting to
the demonstration embarked upon by members of the institution’s
Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), on Tuesday, over
non-payment of Part-time claims (Pt claims)

The ASUP Chairman, Dr Olabisi Olasehinde, had informed Tribune
Online, Not Nairalaw that the lecturers embarked on the
peaceful demonstration and disruption of students examination over
the management’s inability to pay their outstanding
entitlements.

He denied reports that the union accused the Rector of
investment money in the popular cryptocurrency platform Bitcoin,
saying, “I don’t know where that is coming from, it was not part of
the issues we raised during the protest.”

Oladebeye while speaking, on Thursday, said that the agitations
of ASUP were being addressed by the management, adding that the
delay in the payment of their entitlements which caused the
demonstration had been resolved.

Condemning the protest, the Rector said: “Article 23.1 of the
civil service rule that guides ASUP stipulated that before academic
staff can proceed on a protest, they must declare an industrial
dispute and gives the management 21 days ultimatum, followed by
another seven days.

“Protesting when such provision was not followed was gross
misconduct according to civil service rule. I knew they were out to
disparage my person because that was not a protest, but hooliganism
in closing down the school gate.

“Now, the executive of ASUP have received alerts of their Pt
claims and other lecturers taking part-time lecturing, they must
give peace a chance and allow the examinations to continue.

” I don’t know anything about Bitcoin, it is not even possible
with the TSA and IPPIS of the Federal Government. Nobody can have
access to the polytechnic money.”

Meanwhile, the Alumni of the Polytechnic has appealed to ASUP to
cooperate with the Rector to develop the institution, saying
resorting to blackmail over an issue that could be resolved
amicably would affect the school rating.

The National President, Alumni Association, Mr Abiodun Oyedokun,
said the Rector has done excellently well in the areas of staff
welfare like promotion, loans and payment of allowances.

“The Pt claim is not for our lecturers alone, some of the
lecturers were from other schools. ASUP must have pity on the
students who are running out of cash and food on campus. We don’t
want the public to perceive this institution as unserious, which
can affect our ranking.

“We appeal to ASUP to stop creating tension and making this
institution to look as if we are in turmoil. We will try our best
to mediate and restore stability, but we won’t allow the image of
this institution to be soiled by those fighting personal battles,”
he said.