The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Lagos (UNILAG) branch, Akoka, has insisted that the Chairman of the Governing Council of the university, Dr Wale Babalakin, has no right whatsoever to act unilaterally on issues under the purview of the council.
The ASUU chairman of the branch, Dr Dele Ashiru, said this in a conversation with Tribune Online at UNILAG on Tuesday as a reaction to the queries that Babalakin issued out to some members of the university community past and present including the incumbent vice chancellor and his immediate predecessor, Professors Oluwatiyin Ogundipe and Rahamon Bello, respectively, the former registrar and the bursar, Mrs Taiwo Ipaye and Mr Lateef Odekunle, and his successor, Lekan Lawal, among others. The said queries were issued by the registrar, Mr Oladejo Azeez, on the instruction of the chairman of the governing council.
He said though, the union was not at any time against transparency, prudence and accountability in the use of both human and material/financial resources of the university, it is strongly against what it described as the dictatorial action of the council chairman, accusing him of flouting laid down procedures.
Ashiru said it was good that the council constituted a committee to probe activities of certain officers in the university over the construction of a section of the university library that collapsed halfway sometime last year and other matters, but that the council chairman must have to wait for the report to be submitted to the council and members deliberate on it before taking decision jointly.
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“But Babalakin did not do that and that is arbitrariness and ‘one-man show’ which is repulsive and unacceptable to our union,” ASUU chairman said.”So, Babalakin must follow due process in all his activities in the university.”
On their part, the non-academic staff union of the university,(NASU), equally said the union does not also in any way have an objection to give queries to those deserve one, but then, such action must have to follow due process irrespective of the office from which such emanates.
The chairman of the branch, Mr Kehinde Ajibade, told our correspondent in a conversation also on Tuesday, noting that the issue at stake must have to be resolved amicably with all concerned abide by the extant laws of the university.
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