BY DAYO ADESULU
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Lagos UNILAG chapter has condemned the postponement of the institution’s 51st convocation earlier slated for 12 to 15 of March.
Dr Dele Ashiru, the Chairman of ASUU-UNILAG decried the flimsy excuse from the Pro-Chancellor, Dr Wale Babalakin who claimed the management did not seek the Council’s approval.
He posited that Babalakin should have used internal procedures before escalating to the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja.
The Nation reports that the ASUU chair said the Pro-Chancellor was trying to discredit the public university system because of his private university agenda.
His words: “As you may be aware, the agenda of Wale Babalakin and his paymasters is to discredit the Nigerian Public University system as inefficient in order to justify their call for the privatization of universities.
”Available evidence reveals that the matter was discussed in the Council. If Babalakin was not satisfied with that why did he not resort to internal procedures and processes in resolving the issue?
”In view of this, ASUU UNILAG condemns in the strongest terms this wicked, inhuman, egoistic and satanic postponement of the convocation ceremony of our great University in order to massage the over-bloated ego of an imperial Pro-Chancellor.”
TheCheer reported that Dr Wale Babalakin, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of UNILAG had informed the Education Minister, Adamu Adamu in a letter dated March 2, 2020, that the convocation was not approved by the Governing Council.
Meaning that he, Dr Wale Babalakin, Chairman of Governing Council was either not carried along in the programme or was carried along but did not approve it. He, therefore, used his veto power to suspend a convocation that has been widely published.
The letter read: “Re: Invitation to the 2019 Convocation Ceremony of the University of Lagos”
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“The attention of the honourable minister has been drawn to the attached copy of letter dated 2nd of March 2020 from the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Dr B.O. Babalakin to the effect that the 2019 convocation ceremonies were not approved by the Governing Council in line with the laws of the University.
“I am too, therefore, request that you kindly advise the Vice-Chancellor to suspend the convocation and ensure full compliance with due process.”
Meanwhile, UNILAG official release states: ”The Management of the University of Lagos regrets to inform the general public that the 51st (2019) Convocation Ceremonies earlier scheduled to hold from Monday 9th to Thursday 12th March 2020 has been postponed.
” Any inconvenience occasioned by this postponement is highly regretted.” Signed by Oladejo Azeez, Esq, the Registrar and Secretary to Council.
