Adefioye Iyunade
The Joint Meeting of All Unions of the University of Lagos have expressed dissatisfaction over the removal of the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe.
The unions made this known in a jointly signed statement. The joint union which comprises the Academic Staff Union of f Universities (ASUU), Non Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) declared the removal of the vice-chancellor as illegal.
”Our unions are surprised that a council constituted by law and chaired by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) could violently and most lawlessly violate the law of the university.
”According to the University of Lagos Act, law and practice of other University not only in Nigeria but other civilized climes, a principal officer cannot be removed on flimsy excuses without regards to the law.”
READ ALSO: My Present Challenge Is An Opportunity To Attain Higher Level -Sacked UNILAG VC
They, therefore, called on the Minister of Education and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) to stop the charade and lawlessness being perpetrated by Wale Babalakin-led University if Lagos council given its potentials for causing disharmony and industrial instability in the University.
-Advertisement-
They implored all members and stakeholders in the University of Lagos to continue to maintain peace and go about their normal businesses with the assurance that the “ Federal Government of Nigeria will stop this illegality in the interest of the rule of law and justice without further delay.”
At a solidarity rally in support of Ogundipe on the campus, ASUU Chairman, UNILAG branch, Dr. Dele Ashiru, said the unions would not accept an acting VC. The four unions condemned what they described as the purported, illegal, reckless, questionable and unwarranted removal of the vice chancellor and affirmed confidence in his leadership.
Ashiru said, “Let me send a word of advice to any surrogate vice chancellor wherever he may be. This university is not a Jankara Republic where village chiefs are appointed by fiat. Anybody who is dreaming to become Vice Chancellor should wait until the end of the tenure of Prof. Ogundipe, apply properly and if qualified, will be appointed VC. To think that anybody will become vice chancellor by kangaroo factor, paddy-paddy arrangement will not work in this university.
“We call on the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Minister of Education, Mr. Adamu Adamu, to please speak up in this flagrant violation of law. This is an assault on the rule of law and a government that prides itself as a defender of the rule of law and fights against corruption cannot be criminally silent in the face of this provocation.
“We therefore want to call the Executive Secretary of the NUC and the Minister of Education to please call Dr. Wale Babalakin to order, annul the purported illegal removal, and because of the consistent violation of the University regulations by the Dr. Wale Babalakin Council, we pray that that Council be immediately be dissolved.”
READ ALSO: Deposed Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi returns to school
Ogundipe, who attended the joint congress, said he had served the institution for 30 years.
Urging the unions to be calm, he said: “We are all builders. We have invested years into this university. It will be 30 years that I have been working at the University of Lagos this year. And considering the number of years that all of you have invested in this system – you are an investor in this system. So, remain an investor in this system to move it forward; remain a builder to build the system. “Let us pray for peace of the University and let us wait for the directive of the Government.”
The congress was followed with a rally from the Council Chambers to the University’s main gate and back.
Meanwhile, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the umbrella of Civil Societies Publicity and Good Governance, at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, addressed by its publicity secretary, Idowu Odebunmi, said, “It is doubtful the Vice Chancellor was not removed out of vendetta.”
Spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Goong, said the ministry was awaiting notification from the Governing Council before taking the next step.
He said, “Up till now (yesterday) we have not been briefed. You know there are processes and procedures like we said but we are not yet briefed.’’
We do everything possible to supply quality news and information to all our valuable readers day in, day out and we are committed to keep doing this.
Your kind donation will help our continuous research efforts.
-Advertisement-
-Want to get the news as it breaks?-
