Following the sack of Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos UNILAG, ASUU, SSANU, NASU and NAAT have pooled their weight behind Ogundipe, describing his sack as illegal.
They also called on the Federal Government to with immediate effect dissolve the present governing council.
Former Dean, Faculty of Law, Prof. Chioma Agomo presided over the meeting, said over one-third of Senate members attended.
While the Senate passed a vote of confidence on Ogundipe, Agomo, said the Senate had lost faith in the Council led by Dr Wale Babalakin and wanted it dissolved for not following due process in his removal.
.Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe was declared sacked on Wednesday in Abuja by the council of UNILAG.
The over 88 Senate members who attended the emergency Senate meeting at the Ade Ajayi main auditorium on Thursday posited that President Buhari, Minister of Education and other stakeholders should publicly condemn the council’s actions and reverse the decision.
Moreover, the UNILAG Senate and other four unions unanimously vowed to resist the Acting Vice-chancellor, adding that he would not have their supports.
“Secondly, Senate has also unanimously agreed that it had lost confidence completely in the present Council of the University of Lagos. We had more than a third of members that attended the meeting at short notice and we agreed that we have lost confidence in the Pro-Chancellor, we have lost confidence in the Council,” she said.
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During a joint Congress of workers of the University that followed, leaders of the four unions, – the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) affirmed confidence in Ogundipe who joined them towards the end.
Addressing the Congress, ASUU Chairman Dr Dele Ashiru said the union would not accept an Acting VC.
“The four unions of the University, ASUU, SSANU, ASUU, NASU and NAAT, we rose from a meeting to condemn in totality the purported, illegal, reckless, and questionable, unwarranted removal of the University of Lagos. We affirm our confidence in the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe.
“Let me send a word of advice to any surrogate Vice-Chancellor where ever he may be. This university is not a Jankara republic where village chiefs are appointed by fiat.
“Anybody who is dreaming to become Vice-Chancellor should wait until the end of the tenure of Prof. Ogundipe, apply properly and if qualified will be appointed VC. To think that anybody will become Vice-Chancellor by kangaroo factor, paddy-paddy arrangement will not work in this university,” he said.
In a short remark to the Congress, Ogundipe called for peace and urged the workers to keep investing in the institution.
“We are all builders. We have invested years in this university. It will be 30 years that I have been working at the University of Lagos this year.
“And considering the number of years that all of you have invested in this system, you are an investor in this system. To remain an investor in this system to move it forward; remain a builder to build the system.
“Let us pray for the peace of the University and let us wait for the directive of the Government,” he said.
Ogundipe also said he would rededicate himself to the service of the University
