The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, has inaugurated a seven-member presidential panel to look into the crisis at the University of Lagos and submit a report of its recommendations to the Federal Government within two weeks.
Inaugurating the panel in Abuja on Wednesday, the minister said that members of the panel are expected to view the report of the council sub-committee on review of the university since May 2017 and make appropriate recommendations, after affording all those indicted an opportunity to defend themselves.
According to the minister, going by its terms of reference, the panel “shall examine the steps taken by the council leading to the removal of the Vice-chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, and ascertain whether due process was followed as stipulated in the universities amendment act 2003, and if the principle of fair hearing adhered to.
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“Determine whether the process (if any) leading to the appointment of the acting Vice-chancellor for the university was consistent with the provisions of the enabling Act.
“Make appropriate recommendations, including sanctions for all those found culpable by the special visitation team, on allegations contained in the report as well as other subsequent actions arising there from.
“And make any recommendations that will assist (the) government to take decisions that will ensure peaceful, stable and effective administration of the university.”
The minister therefore urged stakeholders in the university to fully cooperate with the panel and allow it to work unhindered.
In his response, the Chairman of the panel, Tukur Sahad, promised that the members will put in their best to ensure the resolution of the crisis rocking the university.
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He called on the university’s governing council and the senate to cooperate with the panel in the course of its assignment.
The panel members include Adamu Usman, Board Chairman, UBEC, Ikenna Onyedo, former Vice-chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike and Ekanem Braid, former Vice-chancellor Cross River State University.
Others are Victor Onoha, Jimoh Bankole, former Bursar, University of Ibadan and Grace Ekanem, Director, Legal Services, Ministry of Education.
The Wale-Babalakin-led Governing Council had removed Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as the vice chancellor of the university and appointed Prof Soyombo as the Acting Vice chancellor on August 12. This sparked controversy with the senate and other groups in the university protesting against the move and calling for a due process.
This prompted President Muhammadu Buhari to ask Babalakin and the sacked VC to recuse themselves pending investigations. The Federal Government also appointed John Momoh, chairman of the university’s alumni body as the council interim chairman. The President also set up a seven man panel to look in the crisis.
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