UNILAG VC Crisis: ASUU calls for Buhari’s intervention

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to constitute a visitation panel to the University of Lagos UNILAG, so as to unravel issues surrounding the removal of the Vice Chancellor of the University.

Briefing Journalists in Abuja on emerging issues and implications on university governance and survival of the country, the ASUU President, Biodun Ogunyemi stated that due process was not followed in the Council’s action to remove the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, adding that the Union is fully in support of the University’s Senate position.

“ASUU is shocked, not because we regard Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as a saint but for the fact that all available evidence indicates that he was not taken through the due process as expressly required by the Universities Miscellaneous Provisions  Amendment Act 2003 which was not followed. 

“ASUU however call on President Muhammadu Buhari as a visitor to immediately constitute a visitation panel to Unilag with a view to bringing all parts culpable to book” Ogunyemi said.

According to ASUU President, “What we know as the autonomy law in Nigeria today is universities miscellaneous Provisions Amendment Act 2003 which was officially gazetted on 12th January, 2007 and was further amended in 2012; the principal act itself is the universities miscellaneous Provisions act no. 11 of 1993. This act and subsequent amendments to it, applies to all federal universities in the country.

“The amendments of 2003 and 2012 not yet formally incorporated are to be read into the enabling laws under the incorporation by reference”

The Committee of Vice Chancellors of Universities in Nigeria CVC, had earlier called on the Governing Council of the University of Lagos UNILAG, to follow due process in the removal of the Vice Chancellor and provide the University head the opportunity to defend himself.

Prof. Ochefu had stated that the law establishing universities gives the council the power to hire and fire a Vice Chancellor but not in an arbitrary process