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Outgoing Rector of Osun State College of Technology (OSCOTECH) Urges Urgent Staffing Reform Amidst Applause for Transformational Leadership
The outgoing Rector of Osun State College of Technology (OSCOTECH), Esa-Oke, Osun State, Dr. Samson Adegoke, has voiced grave concerns regarding the institution’s worsening staffing crisis, which he described as a critical issue demanding immediate intervention from the Osun State Government.
Speaking during a valedictory service held in his honor, Dr. Adegoke highlighted that since 2012, the college has not had any substantial recruitment to replace retiring staff. This long-standing vacuum, he explained, has significantly weakened the institution’s academic and administrative strength. “The situation has reached a crisis level,” Adegoke stated, “and it is imperative that the government takes decisive action to avert further decline.”
He particularly called on the state’s governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, as well as the institution’s Governing Council, to address the precarious staffing imbalance by converting contract staff—commonly referred to as IGR staff—into permanent employees. These contract workers, he noted, have for many years formed the backbone of the institution’s workforce.
“The institution’s dependence on these temporary staff has grown beyond what is sustainable,” he added, warning that the number of contract staff now significantly surpasses that of permanent staff, thereby raising serious questions about job security, quality assurance, and institutional continuity.
Despite these challenges, Dr. Adegoke leaves office with a remarkable legacy. In his remarks, the Chairman of the Governing Council, Prince Diran Odeyemi, paid glowing tribute to Adegoke’s transformative leadership over his nearly eight-year tenure. According to Odeyemi, Adegoke’s era was characterized by visionary leadership, unwavering dedication, and impactful initiatives that changed the trajectory of the college.
“He came in when there was a need for direction, and he did not disappoint. One of his most outstanding achievements is the creation of an additional faculty and 16 new academic departments, which is twice the number he inherited when he assumed office,” Odeyemi said, emphasizing that this expansion significantly broadened the academic offerings of the institution and enhanced its appeal to prospective students.
Echoing this sentiment, the Commissioner for Education in Osun State, Mr. Sunday Eluwole, also commended Dr. Adegoke for his passionate commitment to educational excellence.
Eluwole noted that under Adegoke’s leadership, OSCOTECH witnessed substantial improvements in infrastructure, academic quality, and strategic institutional partnerships. He further described the outgoing rector as a “forward-thinking administrator whose tenure has left an indelible mark on the institution.”
As Dr. Adegoke bows out, stakeholders within and outside the institution are reflecting not only on his accomplishments but also on the pressing need to consolidate his gains through strategic staffing reforms.
The call for the conversion of contract staff to permanent status, and for the recruitment of new personnel, remains a central issue that will likely define the early days of his successor’s administration.
In conclusion, while Dr. Adegoke’s exit marks the end of an impactful era at OSCOTECH, it also opens a crucial chapter that calls for decisive actions to ensure the sustainability of his achievements and the continued growth of the institution.