Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday dissolved the governing council of Lagos State University (LASU) and ordered fresh process for the appointment of a new vice chancellor.
Mr Sanwo-Olu’s chief press secretary Gboyega Akosile said on Twitter that the government adopted the visitation panel and that the acting vice-chancellor and management staff are to elect new council members.
He further said the governor has sent the registrar-to-council on compulsory leave.
“The Government has adopted Visitation Panel’s Report, ordered a fresh process for the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor.
“The Acting Vice Chancellor and Management Staff To Elect New Council Members, As Gov @jidesanwoolu sends Registrar to Council on Compulsory Leave,” Mr Akosile tweeted.
In a statement, the commissioner of information Gbenga Omotoso said the governor also removed the pro-chancellor and chairman of council.
“The immediate dissolution of the Lagos State University Governing Council and the removal of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council for flagrant violations of the extant laws and regulations of the University guiding the appointment of a Vice-Chancellor,” he said.
“Cancellation of the second failed exercise to appoint the 9th Substantive Vice-Chancellor as a result of the flagrant contravention of extant laws, breach of due process, failure and total disregard to follow its own laid down criteria guiding the process for the appointment of a 9th Vice-Chancellor as publicly advertised.
“In due course, a new Governing Council for the Lagos State University will be constituted. The reconstituted Council shall conduct a new process for the appointment of the 9th Vice-Chancellor.
“Members of the Joint Council and the Senate Committee who participated in the two failed exercises of 2020 and 2021 to appoint a ninth Vice-Chancellor are exempted from further participation in the new exercise for the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor. The Acting Vice-Chancellor and Management of the University are hereby directed to elect new council members from the Senate.
“The Registrar and Secretary to Council is to proceed on leave with immediate effect till the end of the process for the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor, having failed to advise the Joint Council and Senate Committee against taking wrong decisions, which were against the provision of the law during the two failed exercises of 2020 and 2021.
“An Acting Registrar will superintend over the new exercise. The Acting Vice-Chancellor is to forward to the Governor/Visitor through the Surrogate Council (Special Adviser on Education) the list of all the Deputy Registrars of Lagos State University for the purpose of appointing an Acting Registrar for the University.”
Mr Omotoso added that a full visitation panel would be set up immediately.
LASU has been in crisis since the expiration of the tenure of Prof Olarewaju Fagbohun as vice-chancellor.
Faults in the selection process for a new vice chancellor forced Sanwo-Olu to cancel it and demand fresh process in 45 days.
The Senate then met and appointed Oyedamola Oke as the acting vice-chancellor of the institution on Janaury 11, 2021.
