ASUU Demands Babalakin’s Removal As UNILAG Pro-chancellor
- Declares him persona non-grata on campus
Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Lagos chapter have demanded the immediate removal of the pro-chancellor, Dr. Wale Babalakin.
The decision was reached at an emergency congress called by the teachers to review the affairs of the university.
Rising from the meeting, the teachers deplored the role of Babalakin in the suspension of the convocation and said the university could no longer tolerate his excesses.
The protesting ASUU members, who were led by Dr Dele Ashiru, marched round the campus with a stern warning to the pro-chancellor to stay away from the university.
Ashiru, in an interview with said: “ The congress took reports on the untoward activities of the pro-chancellor in the University of Lagos since his assumption of office, noted his meddlesomeness in the day-to –day running of the university, observed his tyrannical and dictatorial tendencies, his flagrant disregard for rules and regulations in the institution, his contempt for intellectualism and the Senate of the university, which is the highest authority on academic matters on campus, and more particularly, the congress noted his misinformation from his office to the Ministry of Education which caused the unwarranted postponement of the 51st convocation ceremony.
“Taking all of these infractions together, the congress decided that a vote of no confidence be passed on him as the pro-chancellor of the university such that the visitor to the university should please relieve him of that position.
“Not only that, the congress has declared him persona-non grata on the campus of the University of Lagos, and by implication, he must not be seen in or around the University of Lagos, otherwise, the consequences of a recalcitrant person would be visited on him.”
Ashiru explained that the protest was to literally escort the alleged tyrant out of the campus.
“We voted against his tyrannical and leviathan activities on campus. Babalakin cancelled the convocation of over 13, 000 students only to go and attend the birthday ceremony of his friend in London,” he said.
The ASUU chief said the union would write the visitor to the university through the National Universities Commission (NUC) on the need to relieve Babalakin of his position.
