TheCable

The Lagos State University (LASU) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has asked Adebayo Ninalowo to step down from his position as chairman of the selection committee for the appointment of a new vice-chancellor. 

The union also commended Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, for cancelling the “controversial selection process” of a new vice-chancellor for the university.

The union had, in a letter to the governor dated January 1, 2021, alleged irregularities by the Adebayo Ninalowo-led selection committee.

On Saturday, Sanwo-Olu ordered the cancellation of the process and asked Olanrewaju Fagbohun, the outgoing VC, to convene an emergency senate meeting to appoint one of the deputy vice-chancellors as acting vice-chancellor from January 11.

Tony Dansu and Adeolu Oyekan, the union’s secretary and assistant secretary, respectively, in a statement on Sunday, said the decision of the governor would restore confidence and transparency in the process.

“Our great Union, ASUU-LASU, wishes to commend the Visitor to Lagos State University, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for the bold decision to cancel the flawed, error-ridden and inevitably controversial selection process for the selection of a new Vice Chancellor for the University,” the statement read.

“Ordinarily, such a decision, backed by glaring facts and logic, should not have been difficult to take. We are however not unmindful of the peculiarity of our environment, and the outsize role of politics and intrigues on decisions that are supposed to be strictly, or at least mostly decided by transparent, unambiguous procedures. For this, we wish to salute the courage of the Governor.

“We are aware of the schemes of certain vested, powerful interests in the University who, exploiting their privileged access to information, sought to preempt the Visitor through one of their prominent agents in an otherwise reputable media organisation.

“We feel greatly relieved, and appreciate the fact that the decision of the Visitor subsequently relayed to the public contains no such misleading, imputed interpretation that could have made a mess of his overall objective of ordering a fresh process.

“We look forward to the Senate and Council reconvening to properly elect their representatives to the Selection Committee within the shortest possible time.

“We also hope that the Governing Council will elect its own representatives to the Committee under an open process, and carefully develop a clear set of objective, verifiable criteria for the selection of a new Vice Chancellor in line with best practices, as opposed to the controversial advert and criteria that has brought embarrassment to the University, government and the good people of Lagos State.

“Lastly, having presided over a rancorous, divisive, costly and embarrassing process that had to be cancelled by the Visitor, it is our hope that Professor Bayo Ninalowo will toe the honourable path of stepping down from his position, and stay away from the new process meant to correct the inconclusive one he midwifed.”