Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, has again cancelled the selection process for the appointment of the ninth substantive vice-chancellor at the Lagos State University (LASU).
In a statement on Friday by Gbenga Omotoso, the state commissioner for Information and strategy, the governor ordered the immediate dissolution of the varsity’s governing council.
According to the statement, the decision followed the report of a visitation panel constituted to look into the crisis surrounding the selection of a new vice-chancellor of the varsity.
It added that the governor also removed the pro-chancellor and chairman of the institution’s governing council for “for flagrant violations of the extant laws and regulations of the University guiding the appointment of a vice-chancellor.”
“The Governor of Lagos State and the Visitor to the Lagos State University, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, after consideration of the report of the Special Visitation Panel on the appointment of the 9th Vice-Chancellor and by the powers conferred on him by the Lagos State University Law, Cap L69 volume 7, Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (as amended), hereby adopts the recommendations and directs as follows,” the statement read.
“The immediate dissolution of and the removal of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council for flagrant violations of the extant laws and regulations of the University guiding the appointment of a Vice-Chancellor.”
The statement added that the cancellation of the selection process for the second time was due to the violation of extant laws guiding the exercise.
It noted that the governor also directed the varsity’s registrar and secretary to the council to embark on compulsory leave until the new process for appointing a new VC is completed.
“Cancellation of the second failed exercise to appoint the 9th Substantive Vice-Chancellor as a result of the flagrant contravention of extant laws, breach of due process, failure and total disregard to follow its own laid down criteria guiding the process for the appointment of a 9th Vice-Chancellor as publicly advertised,” it added.
“In due course, a new Governing Council for the Lagos State University will be constituted. The reconstituted Council shall conduct a new process for the appointment of the 9th Vice-Chancellor.
“Members of the Joint Council and the Senate Committee who participated in the two failed exercises of 2020 and 2021 to appoint a 9th Vice-Chancellor are exempted from further participation in the new exercise for the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor. The Acting Vice-Chancellor and Management of the University are hereby directed to elect new council members from the Senate.
“The Registrar and Secretary to Council is to proceed on leave with immediate effect till the end of the process for the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor, having failed to advise the Joint Council and Senate Committee against taking wrong decisions, which were against the provision of the law during the two failed exercises of 2020 and 2021.
“An Acting Registrar will superintend over the new exercise. The Acting Vice-Chancellor is to forward to the Governor/Visitor through the Surrogate Council (Special Adviser on Education) the list of all the Deputy Registrars of Lagos State University for the purpose of appointing an Acting Registrar for the University.”
LASU has been in crisis since the tenure of Olarewaju Fagbohun, the institution’s eighth VC, expired on January 11, 2021.
Sanwo-Olu had earlier cancelled the previous process for the appointment of a new VC on the back of petitions arising from the selection procedure.
The senate of the institution later appointed Damola Oke, the deputy vice-chancellor, administration, as the acting vice-chancellor.
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