The Federal Government has charged members of the newly constituted visitation panel to the University of Lagos, to focus on their assignment and not to interfere with the day to day running of the institution by the University’s management.
The panel led by Professor Tukur Sa’ad is saddled with the mandate to unravel the circumstances that led to the removal of the former Vice Chancellor, Professor Toyjn Ogundipe, by the governing board led by the Pro Chancellor and Chairman,Dr Wale Babalakin, in a bid to bring about stability to the institution.
The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu while inaugurating the 7 – man panel on behalf of President Buhari,warned them not to interfere with the day to day running of the institution by the management but charged them to bring their wealth of experience in University admistration to bear on their new assignment to restore the institution to “the path of progress and greatness”
Adamu said that for one year, the federal Ministry of Education had been inundated with reports of crisis in the University of Lagos and that despite the intervention of his Ministry, the National University Commission and other stakeholders, the crisis lingered resulting in the removal of Professor Toyjn Ogundipe and his replacement which instead of stabilising the situation, worsened it.
According to him, worried by the unabating crisis in the institution, the President after due consideration approved the visitation panel.to the institution.
“The President and Visitor to the University,afer due consideration of the report of the crisis in the university particularly the polarisation 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 panel to the institution.” he said.
The visitation panel is to submit its report within two weeks.
The University of Lagos which is one of the premier Universities in the country and the continent is embroiled in leadership crisis since 2019
There had been no love lost between the former Vice Chancellor, Ogundipe and the governing council of the institution led by Babalakin, the result was the sack of Ogundipe by the governing council.
The decision of the governing council instead of putting out the fire,fanned the embers in accusations and even litigation to the point that the federal government had to take a decisive action on the warring parties by asking them to step aside while directing the Senate of the institution to convene and appoint an Acting Vice Chancellor.
The Senate was to have complied and elected Professor Folashade Ogunsola as Acting Vice Chancellor whose election was ratified by the newly appointed Acting Chairman of the governing council of the institution,John Momoh.
