UNILAG Crises: Babalakin, ASUU Appear Before Visitation Panel

Following his suspension by the Buhari presidency, the controversial governing council chairman of the University of Lagos Wale Babalakin has appeared before the special visitation panel.

The panel was set up by the Nigerian presidency to investigate the crises consuming the institution.

Also, by 2pm, the panel which is sitting at the Council Chambers of the university received the UNILAG branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

They will be expected to state their side of events. According to The Nation, former registrar of the university, Olurotimi Shodimu, has also been seen at the Council Chambers.

However, the suspended vice-chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe appeared before the panel on August 31. Recall that the education ministry directed Babalakin and Ogundipe to recuse themselves from their official duties until the panel concludes its probe.

Meanwhile, Anaedoonline.ng had reported that President Muhammadu Buhari had no interest in the UNILAG crisis.

The disclosure was made by Mallam Adamu Adamu, the minister of education, at the inauguration ceremony of the special Presidential Visitation Panel to the university as constituted and approved by the Nigerian leader.

The minister insisted that due process was reportedly not followed in the removal and appointment of the institution’s vice-chancellor and acting vice-chancellor respectively.

Anaedoonline.ng had also reported that Buhari’s suspension of Wale Babalakin, the pro-chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and its embattled vice-chancellor, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, brewed some reactions from the nation’s academic circle.

One of those groups that aired its response to the president’s decision was the UNILAG chapter of ASUU.

Dele Ashiru, the chairman of the branch, said that the president’s timely move will help in resolving the school’s leadership crisis, especially because of the independent panel which he set up on Friday, August 21.

Source: Legit