UNILAG crisis: Babalakin, ASUU, SSANU appear before FG’s panel

Wale Babalakin, the suspended chairman of governing council of University of Lagos (UNILAG), alongside leaders of the three unions in the varsity, have appeared before the special visitation panel set up by the federal government to look into activities causing crisis in the school.

The leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) at UNILAG entered the council chambers for a hearing on Thursday afternoon.

According to The Nation, Dele Ashiru, the varsity’s ASUU chairman, said the union came with a team of four individuals for the session but he was the only one allowed into the venue.

Kehinde Ajibade, the chairman of NASU, was also present for the hearing, representing the main campus, while Tunde Aderibigbe represented NASU for the College of Medicine, Idi-Araba campus.

SSANU was represented by Olusola Sowumi, its acting chairman for the main campus, as well as Michael Olofindiran, the acting chairman for the Idi-Araba campus.

The three unions’ representatives were said to have entered the council chambers at about 1:50 pm — shortly after Babalakin had left.

They were at the hearing to tell the panel what they know about the crisis with the view of helping the panel in its findings and recommendations that will put an end to the crisis in the varsity.

Babalakin, who was earlier suspended as pro-chancellor of the varsity by the federal government, and Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, its former VC, had appeared before the panel on Thursday morning.

On Babalakin’s presence despite ASUU declaring him a persona non-grata, Ashiru said he was not on campus in his official position.

“It is gratifying that someone who was playing the Lord of the manor can now be made to appear before a panel. Babalakin came here as Wale Babalakin and not as Pro-Chancellor,” he stated.