THE authorities of Edo State-owed Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma have been taken to task to investigate the promotion of the University’s Provost of College of Medicine, Professor G. B. Iyalomhe to the rank of Professor to ascertain if his promotion was procedural, merited and in consonance with the appraisal and promotion criteria of the University as well as global best practices.
In a tense petition dated 2nd of February, 2022 and addressed to the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Iyalomhe’s promotion to the ranks of both Reader and Professor were said to have been manipulated in violation of the University’s appraisal and promotion criteria and best global practices by the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the University, Profess Ignatius A.
Onimawo.Chronicling Professor Iyalomhe’s promotion history, the petitioner said “Prof. Iyalomhe was promoted to the position of Lecturer 1 in 2006 (though later backdated to take notional effect from 2005, but with financial benefit in 2006); he commenced his Ph.D programme in 2007 following his admission by a letter dated October 15, 2007 from the University of Benin, Benin City to study on full time; Prof. Iyalomhe obtained his Ph.D degree in 2011 (2009/2010 session) and was then promoted to the rank of a reader in 2011; and upon successful appraisal and external assessment, he was promoted to the rank of Professor in 2014.”
The petition tasked the authorities to investigate the action and impunity of Professor Ignatius A. Onimawo to have backdated Professor Iyalomhe’s professorial promotion to 2012 and his readership promotion to 2009, without recourse to the Governing Council of the University that promoted him in the first place.
Exhibiting the necessary supporting documents on the alleged illegal promotions of Professor Iyalomhe, some curious questions raised by the petition for investigation by the University authorities included amongst others; Could Prof. Iyalomhe have studied on full time basis at the University of Benin, Benin City while in the full service of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma? If yes, did he obtain the full permission of the University and appropriate study leave? If he obtained appropriate leave and permission, was he still being promoted while on study leave?; (ii) Assuming it was correct that Prof. Iyalomhe was promoted to Lecturer 1 in 2005 (as against 2006), could he have been promoted through the position of Senior Lecturer to Reader by 2009 (two promotions within a four-year period)?
The same period he was also studying for his Ph.D; (iii) Having obtained his Ph.D in 2011, could it have been possible to be promoted to reader in 2009, two whole years before obtaining his Ph.D?; and Whereas appointments and promotions are the businesses of the Governing Council of the University, is it right for the then Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ignatius A. Onimawo to without recourse to same Governing Council, back date the promotions of Prof. Iyalomhe – Readership to 2009, Professorship to 2012?The university authorities were further tasked to as a matter of urgency unravel the controversies and inconsistencies surrounding Prof. Iyalomhe’s promotions to save the university from public odium and ridicule.
Effort to reach Prof. Iyalomhe for comment on the alleged unprocedural and manipulated promotions was unsuccessful. The petition on alleged unprocedural and illegal promotions of Professor Iyalomhe is on the heel of the ratification of the controversial election of Prof Iyalomhe as Provost of the University’s College of Medicine by the University’s Special Intervention Team (SIT).
The election of Prof. Iyalomhe as Provost was characterized by controversies, petitions and protests resulting in his non-recognition by the immediate past Governing Council of the University.