Pro-chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Wale Babalakin has resigned from his position.
His letter of resignation to the Minister of Education Adamu Adamu which was dated September 15 was only made public following the submission of the report on UNILAG crisis by the visitation panel.
Babalakin claimed the visitation panel was raised to exonerate former vice-chancellor Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe whom he led the governing council to remove on various allegations.
He said his resignation was necessitated because his employers had lost faith in him.
“I would like to thank the President of the Federal of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari for giving me the opportunity to serve as the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (the “University”) from May 2017 till date,” part of the letter read.
“I am also grateful that I was considered fit to be the Chairman of the Federal Government Negotiation Team on the Agreement reached with university unions in 2009, from 6th January 2017 till date. I equally want to thank you sir, for your role in recommending me to the President.”
Babalakin said he would not be continuing as chairman of the Federal Government negotiation team on the agreement reached with university unions in 2009.
He has been the chairman of the negotiating team since January 6, 2017.
The businessman and lawyer further said: “I find it difficult to understand how a non-executive Chairman of a Governing Council could be requested to recuse himself during the visitation.
“The Vice-Chancellor could only recuse himself if he were still in office. Implicit in this position is that the Vice-Chancellor was acknowledged as still being in office despite his removal.”
Babalakin also alleged that the composition of the panel was awkward.
“Unfortunately, I must stand by principle. In a situation where my employers believe that the actions I took may not be right, the appropriate thing to do is bow out in honour. Sir, may the Almighty Allah continue to bless you,” he concluded.
