ASUU: Babalakin Acted Within UNILAG Law – Registrar
The Authorities of University of Lagos, UNILAG has refuted the allegation ASUU levelled against its Pro Chancellor, Dr. Wale Babalakin, SAN, adding that the pro chancellor acted within the law.
In his reaction to the allegation published on Sunday and Monday in both electronics and print media of many national newspapers, the Registrar and Secretary to the Council, UNILAG, Oladejo Azeez, Esq said: “Dr. Olawale Bolanle Babalakin, SAN, the incumbent Pro Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the University of Lagos has acted within the Law.”
According to him, the pro chancellor had done nothing wrong or out of the ordinary by holding a meeting with members of Senate of the University of Lagos on Wednesday, September 26, 2018. ASUU Lagos Zone had on December 9, 2018 accused Babalakin of meddling in Unilag affairs contrary to the law that governs the institution.
He said: “The University of Lagos wishes to inform the public that the following allegations made against the Pro Chancellor, Dr. Wale Babalakin are unfounded.
On the reinstatement of the Director of Sports, Dr. Arinze, he said: “Please be informed that a member of staff of the Institution forwarded a petition to the University Governing Council. This petition, like others of its kind, was reviewed and debated upon by members of the Council. It was discovered after careful deliberations that the University Senate had cleared the Director of Sports, Dr. Cecilia Arinze of nine (9) out of eleven (11) allegations levelled against her. UNILAG unveils Institute of Nigeria-China Development Studies “Council also discovered that the tenth (10th) allegation against Dr. Arinze was frivolous and that the only one (1) remaining allegation was insufficient to dismiss a staff of the University who had put in thirty (30) years of service.
“Based on the foregoing, Council decided to clear the Director of Sports of the allegations levelled against her.
“On the accusation of the Lagos Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), that the Pro Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr. Wale Babalakin’s meeting with the members of Senate was unprecedented, please be informed that it is untrue that the meeting in Senate Chamber was unprecedented.”
He explained: “A former Pro Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the University, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN held a meeting of such nature with members of the Senate when he was appointed Pro Chancellor of the Institution.
“The Minutes of Senate Meeting of that day serves as evidence that the allegation is untrue. Another former Pro Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Late Deacon Gamaliel Offoritsenere Onosode, also held a meeting with Senate members in the University Senate Chamber.
“In view of the above, Dr. Olawale Bolanle Babalakin, the incumbent Pro Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the University of Lagos has acted within the Law.
He has done nothing wrong or out of the ordinary by holding a meeting with members of Senate of the University of Lagos on Wednesday, September 26, 2018.
“It is worthy of note also, that the Pro Chancellor has held meetings with all members of staff of the University of Lagos upon his assumption of office.
“These meetings were held with other Council members in attendance so as to have a better understanding of the University environment from members of staff directly involved with the operations of the University.
“In conclusion, we want to place it on record that the Governing Council of the University of Lagos led by Dr. Olawale Bolanle Babalakin, has consistently upheld laws and traditions of the University. “It is also on record that the Pro Chancellor has carried out his duties diligently without drawing any allowance or financial benefit from the University. He is actually on record as supporting the University of Lagos with his personal resources.
