Osun State University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Odunayo Clement Adebooye addressing a press conference in Osogbo on Saturday
- Says 250 Staff Are Legitimate, Threatens Legal Action Against Sally Tibbot Consulting
By John Dike, Osogbo
Osun State University (UNIOSUN) and its Vice-Chancellor, Prof Odunayo Clement Adebooye, have rejected claims by Sally Tibbot Consulting that 250 of the University’s staff—including the Vice-Chancellor himself—are “ghost workers.”
The Vice-Chancellor described the audit report as “unprofessional, fraudulent, and misleading,” the University has threatened legal action against the consulting firm and demanded a formal apology.
At a press briefing held at the main campus in Osogbo on Saturday, Prof Adebooye addressed the ongoing controversies surrounding the 2023 Osun State personnel verification exercise.
He stressed that the University’s response is grounded in transparency, accountability, and truth, and emphasized that it is apolitical, aimed solely at clarifying facts for the public.
“The section of the report that affects the University raises serious regulatory, ethical, and professional questions against the consultant and her expertise as a personnel auditor,”
Professor Adebooye said. “We are here not to engage in political arguments but to present the truth about our staff, whose integrity and professionalism have been wrongly questioned.”
Faulty Audit Exercise
According to Prof Adebooye, the statewide verification exercise conducted in May and June 2023 was fraught with operational inefficiencies and methodological flaws.
“UNIOSUN’s entire staff population of 1,017—including academic, administrative, and support staff—was required to report for verification in a single day, 18 August 2023, at the State Secretariat, alongside employees from other state agencies.
“The consultant’s personnel were grossly inadequate and unskilled to cope with this multitude,” the Vice-Chancellor explained.
“Staff, professors, were forced to queue for hours under the scorching sun. The process was chaotic, demeaning, and completely unprofessional.”
He further criticized Sally Tibbot for her alleged misconduct during the exercise, describing her behavior as “arrogant, indisciplined, and immature.” He recalled that the consultant insulted a University professor, calling them “a bastard,” an act that generated public outrage and led to her being summoned by the Osun State House of Assembly. Dissatisfied with her explanations, the Assembly suspended the audit exercise pending further review.
Misclassification of Legitimate Staff
The Vice-Chancellor noted that the consultant displayed a lack of understanding of university operations, ignoring staff on sabbatical, study leave, research leave, and visiting lecturers. As a result, 250 legitimate staff—including the Vice-Chancellor—were wrongly labeled as ghost workers.
“This is not just an error; it is an affront to the dignity and professionalism of our staff,” he stressed.
“The categorization was not based on evidence but seemingly on a predetermined agenda to inflate findings and perhaps score undeserved pecuniary gain.”
He added that even staff who had retired, resigned, or left service between the previous audit in 2022 and the latest exercise were improperly included in the ghost workers list.
The Vice-Chancellor described the report as “subjective, in bad faith, and a deliberate attempt to smear the image and reputation of the University.”
Robust Payroll and Verification System
He affirmed that UNIOSUN operates a strict, law-abiding payroll system subject to statutory oversight and monthly verification. The University employs a real-time “Salary Checker” system that ensures only certified staff are paid.
“Our system does not allow salary padding, let alone ghost workers. We have 1,463 staff across six campuses, including academic, non-teaching, support staff, and NYSC personnel,” he said.
Staff composition he said is as follows:
Academic Staff: 628
Non-Teaching Staff: 466
Support Staff: 235
NYSC Members: 134
He emphasized that the consultant’s report violated basic auditing standards by preventing the University from verifying its own employees—a fundamental principle of fairness in audit practice. Unlike standard procedures, which include a management letter allowing client response before finalization, Sally Tibbot’s report was insulated from review.
Demand for Apology and Legal Recourse
“UNIOSUN has formally demanded a public apology from Sally Tibbot Consulting and warned that failure to comply may result in legal proceedings.
Professor Adebooye expressed concern over reputational damage caused by the audit, citing numerous embarrassing calls, letters, and inquiries directed at the Vice-Chancellor and senior staff from local and international organizations.
“Universities are custodians of knowledge and character,” he said.
“Allegations that impugn our integrity must be handled with the highest professional caution. Public statements capable of diminishing institutional reputation should always be preceded by rigorous verification.”
Despite the controversy, UNIOSUN reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and invited competent authorities to conduct independent reviews of its payroll and staff records.
“We remain open 24/7 to any lawful, properly constituted, and professionally conducted review,” the Vice-Chancellor stated.
“Our records are impeccable, and any independent audit will confirm this.”
Professor Adebooye concluded by reiterating that UNIOSUN stands for truth, professionalism, and accountability.
He warned that the audit report targeting the University and its staff is “useless documentation” fit only for destruction, and stressed that the University and its members would pursue all legal and institutional remedies to protect their reputation and staff.
“Let it be clear that Sally Tibbot targeted our employment through an unprofessional, fraudulent, and misleading report. We will act individually, severally, and as a corporate body to address this mischief as guaranteed under Nigerian law,”
The press briefing drew widespread attention from the media and stakeholders, reinforcing UNIOSUN’s position as an institution committed to ethical governance, staff welfare, and professional integrity.
