Police on Monday, July 29, opened canisters of teargas on the protesting staff and students ofFederal College of Education(Technical), Akoka, Lagos.

It was learnt that the development resulted in a stampede as they ran to take cover for their dear lives.

It was gathered that the staff and students had staged a protest against the school’s provost, Dr. Wahab Azeez, over his tenure in office.

The protest which took place in the school premises on Monday was directed at the alleged unlawful stay in office of the provost as the protesters claimed it was against the Act governing Federal Colleges across the country.

Last month, the provost had said that his tenure which commenced on 26th of May, 2023, had been duly authorised and confirmed by the Federal Ministry of Education.

Azeez noted that the clarification was by the new law signed by the President on June 12, 2023.

He lamented that some unionists in the college under the aegis of “Concerned Staff” have threatened him and his family.

He said the group also locked up his office and issued him quit notice from his residence on the campus.

Findings revealed that Azeez was appointed the provost of the college in May 2019 for a four-year term of office but his letter of reappointment for another four-year tenure in office was dated January 23, 2023.

Following his re-appointment by the government, Azeez said he resumed for the second term on May 26, 2023.

However, on June 12, 2023, an amended Federal Colleges of Education Act, 2023, which recommended five-year single term for management officers education colleges nationwide, came into effect.

In December 2023, Augustine Nwachukwu and Kazeem Qadri wrote to Tahir Mamman, minister of education, seeking interpretation of the Act in connection with the tenure of office of principal officers of the college, particularly, the provost. (The Nation)