TheNewsGuru

Tag: UNILAG

  • UNILAG Senate ignores Registrar’s directive, holds meeting to choose new Ag VC

    UNILAG Senate ignores Registrar’s directive, holds meeting to choose new Ag VC

    The Senate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has gathered at the Main Auditorium on Monday to select an Acting Vice-Chancellor despite the institution’s Registrar, Oladejo Azeez, sending an email to members to wait for further clarification on their assignment.

    This follows President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive on Friday that due process should follow and the Senate should elect an Ag. VC as opposed to the Governing Council doing so.

    The President also asked the Council-appointed Ag. VC, Prof. Theophilus Soyombo to step down.

    In a mail titled: “Notice to All Senate members,” Oladejjo Azeez, who has been an ally of the Governing Council chairman, Dr. Wale Babalakin, said no meeting had been summoned.

    Babalakin and the embattled VC the Council removed, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, were asked to recuse themselves from the affairs of the University until the Visitation panel set up to look into the university’s affairs concludes its investigation.

    Oladejo’s mail reads: “This is to inform all Senate members that no meeting of the Senate has been summoned.

    “Members should await proper Notice of Meeting after the Federal Government of Nigeria has clarified some issues germane to the meeting.”

    The Registrar also signed a letter addressed to the Head, Auditorium Management Unit, J.J.F Ade Ajayi Auditorium, University of Lagos pasted around the main auditorium, venue of the Senate meeting, instructing the official not to make any facility available for the Senate meeting for the same reason.

    It reads in part: “It follows that you are not make any of your facilities available for any meeting until otherwise advised.”

    However, the Senate convened regardless.

    A member of Senate confirmed the meeting. “Oladejo is not a member of Senate. We are about to start in the Main Auditorium,” the source said.

    The source said the Senate would vote one of the Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola (DVC Development Services) or Prof. Ben Oghojafor (DVC Management Services) as Acting VC.

    “Meeting is ongoing. We are waiting for ballot papers to vote for the Acting VC -Prof Folasade Ogunsola and Prof Ben Oghojafor,” the source said.

  • JUST IN: Prof Soyombo steps down as Acting VC of UNILAG

    JUST IN: Prof Soyombo steps down as Acting VC of UNILAG

    Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof Omololu Soyombo, has stepped down.

    This followed the setting up of a Special Visitation Panel to the institution by the Federal Government on Friday.

    Soyombo, in a statement, said he’s stepping down with immediate effect.

    It would be recalled the Government also directed the University Senate to nominate an Acting Vice-Chancellor for the University.

    Prof Soyombo said: “With this, I am stepping down, with immediate effect, as Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University.

    ” I wish to express my sincere appreciation to all members of staff and our dear students, the staff unions, alumni, and the general public for their wonderful support and cooperation in the past ten days since my appointment as Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University on 12th August.

    “As I noted in my address to a cross-section of staff on 19th August, I accepted the offer to serve as a call to service, with the objective of restoring peace and stability in the university.”

    He prayed the “peace and stability that we so much need and desire at this time be restored very quickly so that the University of Lagos can continue to march on as the University of First Choice and the Nation’s Pride.”

    He urged staff and students to continue to go about their lawful activities in a peaceful manner.

  • UNILAG Crisis: Buhari suspends Babalakin, Ogundipe; sacks newly appointed Ag VC

    UNILAG Crisis: Buhari suspends Babalakin, Ogundipe; sacks newly appointed Ag VC

    …Sets up panel to probe crisis rocking institution

    …Asks senate to nominate new Acting Vice Chancellor

    The Visitor to University of Lagos (UNILAG), President Muhammadu Buhari has waded into the crisis rocking the institution.

    The president directed the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Wale Babalakin, to recuse himself from official duties relating to the institution.

    Spokesman of the Ministry of Education, Ben Goong, who broke the news in a statement on Friday, said Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe was also directed to recuse himself as Vice-Chancellor, adding that a panel has been set up to probe the crisis rocking UNILAG.

    The panel, which is chaired by Tukur Sa’ad, former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, has Victor Onuoha, Ikenna Oyindo, Ekanem Braide, Adamu Usman, and Jimoh Bankole as members.

    According to a reports, the president also directed the Senate of the school to convene to nominate an acting vice-chancellor form among its members for the confirmation of the university’s council, thereby sacking the newly appointed Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Theophilus Omololu Soyombo. The new interim head is expected to act until the government reaches a resolution.

    Expected to submit its report within two weeks, the seven-man panel is to review the report of the council sub-committe on review of expenditure of the university since and make appropriate recommendation after given those indicted an opportunity to themselves. It is also expected to examine steps taken by the council leading to the removal of Ogundipe in order to determine whether due process was followed in accordance to the stipulated universities act and whether fair hearing was adhered to.

    The committee, which will be inaugurated by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, Wednesday, August 25, 2020, is also expected to come up with decision to assist government in ensuring peace in the university.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that trouble started in the institution when the Governing Council removed Ogundipe over alleged financial misappropriation and abuse of office. But Ogundipe kicked against his removal, saying due process was not followed.

    In a statement issued after the suit was withdrawn, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, Ogundipe’s counsel, said his client took the step after consulting stakeholders and supporters within and outside the institution.

    Adegboruwa discredited claims that the court has commenced action on the ex-parte application.

    “Contrary to the falsehood being peddled by mischief makers, the National Industrial Court has never sat or conduct any proceedings in respect of the court case filed by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof Oluwole Ogundipe,” the statement read.

    “No court proceedings ever took place at all and so, no decision or ruling has been rendered by the court. Indeed, upon detailed consultation with all stakeholders and his supporters in and outside the university, Prof Ogundipe directed his lawyers to file a notice of discontinuance of the suit and this has been done on August 21, 2020.

    “This is to defer to the authority of the President as the Visitor of the university as Prof Ogundipe has enough time to challenge his purported removal. This falsehood is being spread to malign the court and blackmail the judiciary by enemies of the rule of law and due process,” he said.

     

  • VIDEO: UNILAG Ag VC Prof Soyombo resumes, says ‘my appointment call to service’

    VIDEO: UNILAG Ag VC Prof Soyombo resumes, says ‘my appointment call to service’

    The Acting Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Theophilus Omololu Soyombo got a rousing welcome from workers of the University, mostly non-academic staff as he made a grand entry into the Senate building – the administrative head of the institution on Wednesday morning.

    Addressing them from the foyer of the building, Soyombo pledged to prioritise their welfare.

    He also called for their support, saying one person cannot do the job and that the institution was bigger than any one person.

    He said: “These are indeed trying times for our great University and our prayer is that God will see us through this trying period.

    “I want to thank all our unions and the members – NASU, SSANU, NAAT, and ASUU.
    No matter what we say, we are all together and should all just work together and I believe that by the grace of God peace and stability will return to our University and we will all continue to work together in unity.

    “We are all familiar with the current situation. On the 12th of August 2020, the Governing Council of the University of Lagos removed the former vice-chancellor and announced my appointment as the Ag. Vice-Chancellor of the University.

    “This appointment was with immediate effect. And I saw it as a call to service to the University of Lagos. And it is in this regard that I accepted the appointment for the ultimate benefit of the University.

    “I thought that we should not allow the ship of the University of Lagos to continue to drift. The University of Lagos is a foremost University; the University of Lagos is greater than any individual; anyone of us.

    “We all come here to work and at our various times we pray that we all live till retirement. But whether we like it or not when we work in UNILAG, we will leave UNILAG. But the University of Lagos will continue. It behooves us to leave the university of Lagos better than we met it.”

    He went on: “There is a lot of work in the University of Lagos but I can’t do it alone that is why I need your support that is why I need your prayers and I believe that we should all join hands together; let us work together for the progress of our University. When we have a success story it should be for each and every one of us.

    “I want to tell on my immediate plans for the University of Lagos. My major focus will be on staff welfare.

    “I believe in this regard the human resources are the core assets of any organisation and I believe that a well motivated staff to be able to deliver and work very hard. We must encourage our staff; we must motivate our staff to work well.”

  • UNILAG crisis: Removal of Ogundipe as VC was done in accordance to law – Babalakin

    UNILAG crisis: Removal of Ogundipe as VC was done in accordance to law – Babalakin

    Wale Babalakin, the Pro-chancellor of the University of Lagos, Akoka, has said the removal of Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as the Vice-Chancellor of the institution was due to gross misappropriation of funds and reckless looting of resources.

    Mr Babalakin said this Friday while addressing journalists at the Muritala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja.

    Babalakkin’s words, “The confusion is that most people don’t how governing council operates. There was full compliance of the law in the removal of Prof Ogundipe,” he said.

    “The issue has been lingering on for a long time. Series of attempt were made to reconcile but the VC was not forthcoming… a focal minority, who are benefiting from the corruption in UNILAG which has become cultural.

    “Due process was followed in the removal of Ogundipe. After the council committee indicted the VC, he wrote his defence in May and spoke for one hour. His sack was done in accordance with UNILAG law.”

    Giving a breakdown of events on the day that the former VC was removed, Babalakin said under UNILAG laws, voting can be done in secret or open ballot.

    “The votes were counted with each council members’ comments. Everyone voted, they didn’t just vote but they made comments and I read out all the comments,” he said.

    “Go and read the law, what the law said is that when a Vice Chancellor is removed and you have a complaint, you will write an appeal to the visitor. He cannot on his own, declare that he has not been removed as Ogundipe has done. He cannot on his own confront his employers. In law, he has resigned because if you challenge your employer and you are still in his employment, you have actually left.

    “The weakness of Ogundipe is that his legal advisers have not done a very thorough job. There is no stalemate and there is no chaos in the university because the law would take its course. It is not in the place of the removed VC to say he has not been removed. He cannot be a judge in his own court.

    “He cannot on his own declare that he has not been removed. He cannot on his own decide to confront his employer.”

    On the alleged looting, Babalakin said: “Professor Ogundipe has been looting the university and looting it recklessly, that’s the plain truth that we should not hide. There is misappropriation and there is direct looting of the university. All attempts were made to put an end to this.

    “The former VC spent N49 million renovating his house. Under the process, this has to be done with approval from the council, he sought no approval. To cover up, he gave the bursar N41 million to renovate his official residence. The official residence of the bursar can be built for N41 million from the scratch, this was what was spent on renovation.”

  • Removal of Unilag VC like hatchet job, says Committee of Vice Chancellors

    Removal of Unilag VC like hatchet job, says Committee of Vice Chancellors

    The Committee of Vice Chancellors of Universities (CVC) has condemned the removal of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (Unilag), Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, without due process.

    The committee also condemned appointment of an acting vice chancellor for the university outside the university’s three deputy Vice-Chancellors.

    Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, Secretary-General, CVC, expressed the view of the committee while fielding questions from newsmen on Friday in Abuja.

    “The chairman of the council knows that the tenure of two members of the council has expired, so he waited for the members not to be in council to get the majority vote.

    “It is like a hatchet job, we don’t want it to appear like that because of the integrity of University of Lagos.

    ”The integrity is very high and we don’t want council members to degenerate to that situation.

    ”As it is now, we have a stalemate and it is looking more in favour of the university senate than the council,” he told journalists.

    Recall that that Unilag’s Governing Council headed by Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN) removed Ogundipe at its meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

    The removal was over allegations of infractions and gross misconduct.

    The council appointed Prof. Theophilus Omololu Soyombo of the Faculty of Social Sciences the Acting Vice-Chancellor.

    However, the institution’s Senate and all its workers unions have condemned Ogundipe’s removal, saying it flouted the university’s regulations.

    They all made a vote of confidence on Ogundipe on Thursday and vowed not to recognise the acting vice-chancellor.

    Ogundipe has also said he is still the vice chancellor, urging the public to disregard news of his removal.

    According to Ochefu, the extant law of the university states that if a vice-chancellor is removed, one of the deputies should be appointed to act.

    “Unilag has three deputies, none of them was appointed as acting vice-chancellor but somebody else entirely.

    “This is going to pose another problem, senate members will not allow such a person to chair their meeting because they don’t know him within the context of laws establishing universities,” he said.

    Ochefu also called on the Unilag Governing Council to follow due process in the removal of a vice chancellor by providing Ogundipe an opportunity to defend himself.

    He noted that though the law establishing universities gave the council the power to hire and fire a vice chancellor, it should not be done in an arbitrary process.

    “The challenge we have with this particular action is that the university community says the council did not follow due process; indeed, the communication from the embattled vice chancellor is clear and it is to that effect.

    “In the procedure for removing a vice chancellor, you have to set up a joint council/senate committee.

    ”The vice-chancellor will be given the opportunity to defend himself; from there, a submission will be made to the council which will take a decision,” Echefu said.

    According to him, the situation in Unilag at the moment is unhealthy for the foremost university.

    ”As CVC, we advise the council to take a step back and allow the process of removing a vice chancellor, as established by the law, to take its course.

    “It is a simple process. If it finds the man guilty, the council can remove him, but it should go through the normal process,” he said.

    He noted that fair hearing remained
    a fundamental human right.

  • JUST IN: Tight security at UNILAG as Senate meets

    JUST IN: Tight security at UNILAG as Senate meets

    Information reaching TheNewsGuru.com, TNG has it that security has been beefed around the Senate building of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) as its Senate meets at the Ade Ajayi Main auditorium to discuss the sudden removal of Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as Vice Chancellor by the Governing Council in Abuja on Wednesday.

    TNG reports that the recent developments has caused unrest in the university community as the ousted VC insists nothing has changed.

    However, the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Mr. Oladejo Azeez has since announced Prof Theophilus Soyombo of the Faculty of Science as Acting Vice Chancellor.

    It was observed on Thursday that access to the Senate Building, the administrative hub of the University, housing the offices of the Vice Chancellor, other principal officers as well as the Senate Chamber, was restricted.

    Visitors and members of staff without offices in the building were not allowed in.

    The situation may have forced the Senate to move its meeting, which is ongoing, to the main auditorium.

    Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are also scheduled to hold a Congress to debate Ogundipe’s removal.

    Meanwhile, it was gathered that ASUU had earlier issued a strong warning to Soyombo not to resume as Acting VC of the university.

    More details later…

     

  • UNILAG: Council appoints Soyombo, Acting Vice Chancellor

    UNILAG: Council appoints Soyombo, Acting Vice Chancellor

    The Governor Council of the University of Lagos has appointed Professor Theophilus Omololu Soyombo as the Vice-Chancellor in an Acting Capacity.

    This was disclosed in a statement Wednesday signed by Oladejo Azeez, Registrar and Secretary to Council. He said Council “duly appointed Professor Theophilus Omololu Soyombo of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos as the Vice-Chancellor of the University in an Acting Capacity.”

    He made the announcement while asking members of the public to disregard a claim by the former Vice-Chancellor Professor Oluwatoyin T.Ogundipe, FAS that he remains the VC despite an earlier announcement of his removal on the orders of the University’s Council.

    The Registrar said: “My attention has been drawn to a document circulating under the hand and signature of the former Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, FAS. The letter purports to deny his removal by the Governing Council of University at its Emergency Meeting of Wednesday, August 12, 2020.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, I am in my capacity as Registrar and Secretary to Council the only Custodian of the minutes of Council and the authorizing officer on behalf of Council to issue official statements pertaining to all Council Affairs.

    “Members of the public are hereby advised to totally disregard the statement attributed to the said former Vice-Chancellor. The position remains that he was lawfully removed by the Governing Council at a meeting fully attended by all Council members.

    “I also wish to use the opportunity to inform members of the public that Council at the said meeting duly appointed Professor Theophilus Omololu Soyombo of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos as the Vice-Chancellor of the University in an Acting Capacity.

  • UNILAG crisis: ASUU, Senate say Governing Council lacks power to sack VC

    UNILAG crisis: ASUU, Senate say Governing Council lacks power to sack VC

    There was confusion in the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, community, on Wednesday following the counter-reports with one claiming the termination of the appointment of the university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin and the other refuting the claim.

    While the university’s registrar, who also doubles as the secretary to the governing council, Mr Oladejo Azeez, signed the former report announcing the dismissal of VC by the governing council at its emergency meeting earlier on Wednesday in Abuja, the vice-chancellor signed the latter on behalf of the management, refuting the report of his sack about two hours later.

    The registrar in his memo, titled: “Notice to the general public on the removal of the vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos, stated in conclusion that “The vice-chancellor was removed based on council’s investigations of serious acts of wrongdoing, misconduct and financial recklessness and abuse of office by Prof Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe.”

    But in the counter-memo signed by the vice-chancellor, refuting the claim of his sack, Professor Ogundipe, said inter-alia that “His purported removal is an act of illegality and cannot stand as it is in clear violation of UNILAG Act as amended by the universities (miscellaneous provisions) amendment Act, 2003.

    He asked both members of the UNILAG community and the general public to disregard the information, noting that he is still the vice-chancellor of UNILAG.

    The spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Goong, reacting to the University of Lagos (Unilag) crisis, has said that the Council has the power to “hire and fire” anybody.

    However, the various stakeholders in the university community, including the university’s senate, lecturers and non-academic staff, as well as students have reacted on both claims.

    They said they were yet to understand the real position as regards the counter-reports.

    They also said they were not believed yet that the vice-chancellor had been removed as nothing, according to them, warrants his removal.

    They said they had confidence in his person and his style of leadership since he came on board as the vice-chancellor of the university two years ago, adding that his administration follows due process in all its activities.

    The two Senate representatives in the governing council of the university, Professors Olukemi Odukoya, and Bola Oboh, in different statements, blamed Babalakin for Ogundipe’s purported removal, arguing that governing council did not follow due process.

    While noting that Ogundipe was not given an opportunity to defend himself on accusations levelled against his person, they said the action of Babalakin in this regard is tantamount to ridiculing the sitting vice-chancellor and the university management and therefore condemned it entirety.

    They said apart from them, two others who are Professor Foluso Ebun Lesi, who is the provost of the university’s college of medicine, Idi-Araba and Mr John Momoh, the National President of university’s alumni association against the removal of the VC at the meeting.

    They said but at the end of the day, Babalakin went ahead to announce the removal of the VC, saying six council members had voted in favour of the action.

    Also, the chairman of ASUU of the university, Dr Dele Ashiru, said if it was true that the vice-chancellor had been removed, the process of doing so was full of illegality and therefore would not stand.

    According to him, ASUU, as a union has confidence in the leadership style of Professor Ogundipe and any attempt to remove him unjustly, would be resisted by the lecturers.

    He said, “Babalakin cannot impose anybody on UNILAG and any attempt to do so will be resisted.”

    He said the purported removal of the VC was a “further confirmation of the union earlier position that Dr Wale Babalakin is a lawless, and vindictive pro-chancellor.”

    On his part, the acting Chairman of SSANU, Mr Olusola Sowunmi, said the union was still studying the two memos and all other events as unfolded on the matter and therefore would need clarifications.

    Governing council can hire and fire- Ministry of Education

    The spokesperson of Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Goong, reacting to the University of Lagos (Unilag) crisis, has said that the Council has the power to “hire and fire” anybody.

    This is just as Goong explained that the ministry is yet to get a proper briefing on the earlier removal of the Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, by the Governing Council, led by ProChancellor Babawale Babalakin.

    Goong emphasised that “due process” must, however, be followed before removing anybody.

    “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,” Goong said.

    R\

  • VC’s sack: Shameful act ongoing in UNILAG, Babalakin ridiculing our regulations, says member of governing council

    VC’s sack: Shameful act ongoing in UNILAG, Babalakin ridiculing our regulations, says member of governing council

    An aggrieved senate representative at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) governing council, Bola Oboh, on Wednesday condemned the process of removal of the vice-chancellor of the institution, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe.

    Recall that TheNEwsGuru (TNG) has earlier reported that the varsity’s governing council, led by Wale Babalakin, its pro-chancellor, on Wednesday sacked Ogundipe as the vice-chancellor during its meeting at the National Universities Commission (NUC) headquarters in Abuja.

    But in a statement, Oboh said the vice-chancellor’s removal was against the institution’s regulation, adding that the council removed Ogundipe without giving him the opportunity to defend himself.

    She also accused Babalakin of turning deaf hears to entreaties that due process should be followed in the removal of the vice-chancellor.

    “Dear senate members University of Lagos regulation has been stepped on and ridiculed. Babawale Babalakin, the Pro-Chancellor waited for the tenure of Prof. Chukwu and Prof. Familoni to end, to call an Emergency Council meeting,” the statement read.

    “Based on the Dagari report, without allowing the VC defend himself, the Pro-Chancellor called for a vote for the removal of the VC. I (Prof. Oboh), Prof. Odukoya, Prof. Leshi and John Momoh voted against the removal of the VC. Six persons (excluding Babalakin) voted for.

    “But then went ahead to announce the removal of the VC. Dear Senate members, the procedure for removal of persons in office is clear and this was pointed out to Babalakin several times but he turned deaf ears.

    “He said he will announce the Ag. Vice Chancellor at 5pm. I have excused myself that I need to report to Senate members the shameful act currently ongoing. Please let us arise to fight this.”

    Recall Babalakin and Ogundipe have been at daggers drawn since March over the institution’s 51st convocation, which was cancelled just before it commenced.

    The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had asked the institution to suspend the ceremony after the chancellor accused the management of not following due process in reaching its decision as regards the event.

    But Ogundipe insisted that the university followed the pro-chancellor’s directives and did not contravene any law.