The Federal Government has inaugurated a Presidential Visitation Panel to look into the crisis in the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
The seven-member panel are requested to submit recommendations that would put the school back on course.
The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu who inaugurated the panel in Abuja on Wednesday, charged members of the panel to conclude its assignment and submit its report within two weeks from the time of the inauguration.
The Minister also warned members against interference with the activities of the university management.
He also urged all stakeholders in the university to fully cooperate with the panel and to allow it to work unhindered.
According to him, members by the terms of reference of this panel are expected to view the report of the council sub-committee on review of the University of Lagos since May 2017 and make appropriate recommendations, after affording all those indicted an opportunity to defend themselves.
“They are to examine the steps taken by the council leading to the removal of the Vice-chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, and ascertain whether due process was followed as stipulated in the universities amendment act 2003, and the principle of fair hearing adhered to.
“To determine whether the process (if any) leading to the appointment of the acting Vice-chancellor for the university was consistent with the provisions of the enabling Act.
“To make appropriate recommendations, including sanctions for all those found culpable by the special visitation team, on allegations contained in the report as well as other subsequent actions arising therefrom.
“And make any recommendations that will assist the government to make decisions that will ensure peaceful, stable, and effective administration of the university,” he said.
He said: “I am confident that, as members, you will bring to bear your expertise in university administration in the discharge of this task, in order to bring the institution back to the path of progress and greatness.”
The minister, who noted that “councils are to lay down policies while managements are to implement them”, regretted that: “Over the past one year, the ministry has been inundated with complaints and correspondences from the management and the governing council of the University of Lagos as well as the National Assembly, on the lingering governance issues in the institution, including allegations of financial infractions and breach of responsibilities.”
Adamu insisted that like he said about a month ago when he inaugurated the reconstituted governing councils of 13 federal universities, chairmen and members of the council must ensure that they do not interfere with the day-to-day administrative activities of their respective university managements.
Recalling the crisis that bedevilled the university, the minister regretted that: “The face-off has lingered unabated in spite of several interventions by the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Education, many stakeholders and the National Universities Commission (NUC), eventually leading to the removal of Professor Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe as Vice-Chancellor by the university Governing Council during its meeting of Wednesday, 12th August 2020.”
Adamu, who noted that the university’s “governing council thereafter appointed an acting vice-chancellor to fill the void”, however, regretted that “the decision of the council, instead of stabilising the University of Lagos, only managed to open up a plethora of accusations and counter-accusations”.
“Due process was alleged not to have been followed in the removal and appointment of the vice-chancellor and the acting vice-chancellor, respectively.
“The President and Visitor to the university, after due consideration of the report of the crisis in the university, particularly the polarization and unhealthy relationship between the vice-chancellor and the chairman and pro-chancellor and some members of the governing council, approved the constitution of a seven-man Special Visitation Panel to the institution,” he added.
Responding, the Chairman of the panel, Prof.Tukur Sahad, thanked the minister for finding the members of the committee worthy of carrying out the national assignment.
He promised that they will put in their best to ensure the resolution of the crisis rocking the university while calling on the university’s governing council as well as the university senate to give them full cooperation in the course of discharging their duty
Recall that the crisis started rocking the university as a result of its Governing Council headed by Dr Wale Babalakin sacking the vice-chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe on Aug. 12 over allegations of infractions and gross misconduct.
The Federal Government has suspended both Babalakin and Prof. Ogundipe pending the outcome of the investigations to be carried out by the Sahad-led panel.
Other panel members include Prof. Adamu Usman, Board Chairman, UBEC, Prof. Ikenna Onyedo, former Vice-chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof. Ekanem Braid, former Vice-chancellor Cross River State University
