The Governing Council of the University of Lagos on Wednesday had announced the removal of institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe aft
The Governing Council of the University of Lagos on Wednesday had announced the removal of institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe after a meeting yesterday at the Abuja headquarters of National Universities Commission (NUC).
The Federal Government said it had not been notified, but affirmed that the Council has the power to hire and fire as long as the due process is followed.
The Wednesday’s Council’s meeting, initially scheduled to hold between July 15 and 17 was moved to Abuja by Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Babalakin.
He moved the venue, following a warning by the UNILAG ASUU chapter that he should not visit the campus having been declared persona non grata because of his role in the suspension of the university’s 51st Convocation in March.
Six members of the 10-member Council voted for the VC’s removal at the meeting. However, the Provost, College of Medicine UNILAG, Prof Afolabi Lesi; President, UNILAG Alumni Association, Dr. John Momoh and two representatives of the Senate on the Council, Prof. Bola Oboh and Prof. Olukemi Odukoya, kicked against the VC’s sack.
Two posts, credited to Prof. Oboh and Prof. Odukoya, which claimed that Ogundipe was not allowed to defend himself, were circulated on various social media groups of the UNILAG community. They urged the Senate to resist the removal, which they insisted did not follow due process.
The Council said Ogundipe was removed for misconduct and financial recklessness among others. A statement by the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Mr. Oladejo Azeez, titled: “Notice to the General Public on the removal of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos”, noted: “The general public is hereby notified that at an emergency meeting held on Wednesday 12 August 2020 and in accordance with the statutory power vested in it by law, the Governing Council of the University of Lagos removed Prof. Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, FAS from office as Vice Chancellor of the University with immediate effect.
“The decision was based on the Council’s investigation of serious acts of wrongdoing, gross misconduct, financial recklessness, and abuse of office against Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe.”
Ogundipe’s removal may not come as a surprise. To many, there is no love lost between the embattled vice chancellor and the pro-chancellor. The feud between Babalakin and Ogundipe has created camps devoted to the two of them – up to the administrative level.
It is believed that the Registrar, Mr. Oladejo Azeez, and the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Management Services, Prof. Ben Oghojafor are loyal to Babalakin. The others have pitched tent with Ogundipe. The membership of the Council is also split into camps.
The quarrels led to the intervention of the Education Ministry and the House of Representatives Committee on Education last year. The House Committee on Public Procurement visited the university to investigate the collapse of the formwork of a library under construction, which the Council had previously questioned how the contract was awarded. It cleared the vice chancellor of wrongdoing and permitted the contractor to continue with the construction.
TheNation
