The four unions in the University of Lagos have thrown their weight behind the embattled Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe.
The unions which include ASUU, SSANU, NASU and NAAT, on Thursday insisted that the position of Vice-Chancellor of the university was not vacant.
The unions in a statement signed by their various leaders after a joint meeting, described the purported removal of the VC by the Dr Wale Babalakin-led governing council of the University as unjust, ungodly and illegal.
The statement read in part: “Our unions are surprised that a council constituted by law and chaired by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) could have violently and most lawlessly violate the law of the university of Lagos in the said removal of our Vice – Chancellor.
“According to the University of Lagos Act, laws and practices of other universities not only in Nigeria but in other civilized climes a principal officer cannot just be removed on flimsy excuses without regards to laws.
“The four Unions of all workers in the University of Lagos hereby declare the removal of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, FAS as illegal on the following grounds:
I. No notification to the Vice – chancellor on the allegation against him.
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II. No investigation panel was set up to investigate the allegations against the Vice- chancellor in line with the University Act.
III. Lack of fair hearing.
IV. No formal report from any investigative committee.
V. No consideration of report of an investigative committee since none was not set-up as provided for in our law.
“Against the foregoing background, the staff unions of University of Lagos, hereby condemn in its totality the purported removal of our Vice-Chancellor Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as illegal, vexatious, unjust, vindictive and tantamount to Jungle Justice.
“We therefore affirm our absolute confidence in the leadership of Prof. Toyin Ogundipe as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos.
“Therefore, the position of the Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos is not vacant.
“Our unions is using this medium to call on the minister of Education and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) to stop this charade and lawlessness being perpetrated by the Dr Wale Babalakin-led University of Lagos council given its potential for causing disharmony and industrial instability in the university of Lagos.
