UNILAG Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has lauded the election of Prof. Folashade Ogunsola as the acting vice-chancellor of the university.
The Federal Government had on Friday directed the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of the university, Dr Wale Babalakin, and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, to recuse themselves from official duties pending the outcome of a special visitation panel to the university.
The Federal Government also directed that the senate of the university should convene to nominate an acting vice-chancellor from among its members for confirmation by the Governing Council.
The governing council, then on Aug. 12, removed Ogundipe as the Vice-Chancellor over alleged misconduct.
Reacting to the election of the acting VC, The Chairman of ASUU Unilag chapter, Dr Dele Ashiru, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election.
“I want to say we are very satisfied with the conduct of today’s election which has brought forth Prof. Folasade Ogunsola as the Acting Vice Chancellor; she was prior to today’s election, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Development Services).
“The election followed due process. Senate met and nomination taken. Senate has spoken loud and clear on its choice on who to lead them.
“This whole process is a right step in the right direction. We want to thank President Buhari for the intervention.
“We, therefore, call on the university community to join hands with the newly-elected Acting Vice Chancellor to move the university forward.
“I will also like to state that with this election, calm has returned to the campus,” he said.
He noted that members of the university community are awaiting the inauguration of the visitation panel l believe that all parties concerned will have a day with justice.
Before the election, a missunderstanding left the senate members shut out of the election venue based on a memo by the Registrar of the university, Mr Oladejo Azeez.
The memo, pasted at the venue of the election read in part: “Re-Notice to Senate Meetings
“The above matter refers: Please note that the message contained below has been sent to senate.
“This is to inform senate members that no meeting of senate has been summoned.
“Members should await proper notice of meeting after the Federal Government has clarified some issues germane to the meeting.
“It follows that you are not to make use of any of your facilities available for any meeting until otherwise advised.”
The Federal Ministry of Education had to intervene before before the venue was opened for election.
Ashiru decried: “It is very sad and unfortunate. The locking of the auditorium is a manifestation of the crudity
and recklessness that characterised the council’s leadership.
“No principal officer of a university should have the temerity to trample upon the senate of the university as we witnessed earlier,” Ashiru said.
Read also: ETSDI Donates Items To Boost Non Formal Education In Ebonyi