The Federal Ministry of Education (FMoE) said it has not been briefed on the purported removal of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe from office by Governing Council of the university.
Spokesperson of the FMoE, Ben Goong, said this in a statement in Abuja.
The statement noted that while the ministry awaits proper briefing from the university authorities, it must be reaffirmed that council has the power to hire and fire.
The statement however said that due process must be followed in doing so.
It reads: “My dear colleagues, the Federal Ministry of Education wishes to state that it is yet to be briefed on the developments at the University of Lagos regarding the purported removal of the VC.
“While the Ministry awaits for the proper briefing from the university authorities, it is important to reaffirm that council has the power to hire and fire but that due process must be followed in doing so.”
Ogundipe’s ‘removal’ from office was announced in a statement by the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Mr. Oladejo Azeez, in a statement titled: Notice to the General Public on the removal of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos.
The council based the decision on gross misconduct, financial recklessness among others.
But the embattled Vice Chancellor insisted he remained in office, stating his purported removal was a figment of imagination.