President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the immediate reinstatement of Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as the Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), following his acceptance of the recommendations of the special Presidential Visitation Panel constituted on the matter.
The directive was handed down by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu in a statement signed by his Director of Press and Public Relations, Mr Ben Goong and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Governing Council of UNILAG removed Ogundipe during its meeting at the National Universities Commission (NUC) headquarters on Aug. 12 and replaced him with Prof. Omololu Soyombo as Acting VC.
Ogundipe, who was appointed as the vice chancellor of UNILAG in November 2017, was accused of financial impropriety, gross misconduct and abuse of office.
As the visitor to the university, President Muhammadu Buhari constituted a special Presidential Visitation Panel to look into the removal Ogundipe as Vice-Chancellor of the University by the Governing Council, chaired then by Dr. Wale Babalakin.
At its inauguration on Aug.26, the panel was given two weeks to complete its assignment, and were assured by the Minister of Education, when receiving their report, that President Buhari would take a decision in order to restore peace and a conducive learning atmosphere in the university.
The statement said President Muhammadu Buhari and Visitor to the University of Lagos had approved the report of the Special Visitation Panel to the University of Lagos and accordingly declared that due process was not followed in Ogundipe’s removal.
“The Vice Chancellor was not granted an opportunity to defend himself on the allegations upon which his removal was based. He should accordingly be re-instated.
“All allegations made against the Vice Chancellor and the management of the University before and after the Constitution of the Special Visitation Panel should be referred to a regular Visitation Panel for thorough investigation and necessary recommendations,’’ the statement said, quoting the panel’s report.
The panel also found that the process adopted by the Council in the appointment of Prof. Omololu Soyombo as Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University was inconsistent with the provisions of the law relating to the appointment of an Acting Vice-Chancellor.
“Mr President, after careful review of the report, has approved all the recommendations of the Panel. Accordingly, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe is hereby reinstated as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos.
“The Governing Council of the University of Lagos Chaired by Dr. Babalakin is hereby dissolved. Mr President hopes that these steps will bring peace, stability, focus and direction to the University’’, the statement said.
Meanwhile The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapter, has lauded the Federal Government for what it said was “standing on the path of justice’’ by reinstating the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe.
The union’s Chairman, Dr Dele Ashiru, gave the commendation while reacting to the development in an interview in Lagos on Wednesday.
The Federal Government had in August, directed the then Pro-Chancellor of the university, Dr Wale Babalakin and Prof. Ogundipe to recuse themselves from official duties pending the outcome of a Special Visitation Panel set up by the visitor, President Muhammadu Buhari.
It then directed the Senate of the university to immediately convene to nominate an acting vice-chancellor from among its members.
The Babalakin-led Governing Council had on Aug. 12, sacked Ogundipe as the vice-chancellor over alleged financial misappropriation.
However, Babalakin later resigned his appointment.
According to Ashiru, the reinstatement of the vice-chancellor is a huge step to further boost the belief of government’s effort in restoring peace in the entire university community.
“It feels glorious and I want to thank the visitor to the university, President Muhammadu Buhari, through the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, for this very historic intervention.
“This has put an end to tyranny, authoritarianism and dictatorship which characterised the Wale Babalakin-led Governing Council.
“We indeed, thank the visitor for standing on the path of truth, due process and autonomy of the Nigeria university system.
“It is our conviction that this decision by government will return our great university to the path of peace, progress and scholarly excellence for which the university is renowned,’’ the unionist said.
The announcement of the reinstatement had sent wild jubilation among members of the community as they were seen in small groups discussing and jubilating.
Some members of staff who pleaded anonymity, lauded the Federal Government for the intervention, describing it as a job well done.
“We are happy that it has all ended in praise. Our university will once more experience the peace it has been known for. To God be all the glory,” they said.
