LASU VC: Gov. Sanwo-Olu Orders Fresh Appointment Process

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered a
fresh process for the selection of the ninth substantive
Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Information, Gbenga Omotoso,
made this known in a statement on Friday.

This is in line with the recommendations of the Special
Visitation panel set up by the Governor after the crisis that
greeted the initial selection process.

The commissioner also said the governor dissolved the governing
council of the institution and removed the Pro-Chancellor and
Chairman of Council.

A statement by Omotoso read, “The Governor of Lagos State and
the Visitor to the Lagos State University, Mr. Babajide Olusola
Sanwo-Olu, after consideration of the report of the Special
Visitation Panel on the appointment of the 9th Vice-Chancellor and
by the powers conferred on him by the Lagos State University Law,
Cap L69 volume 7, Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (as amended), hereby
adopts the recommendations and directs as follows:

“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.

“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.

“The Governor/Visitor following the recommendation of the
Special Visitation Panel, shall be setting up a full Visitation
Panel for Lagos State University immediately.”

During the initial selection process, a joint Selection
Committee of the Senate and Council was set up by the university to
interview candidates to replace Prof Olarewaju Fagbohun, whose
tenure expired.

The Committee was expected to submit the names of the three best
candidates for the job for onward transmission to the Visitor (the
Lagos State Governor) for the final selection of one successful
candidate for the job.

More than 18 Professors from about 10 universities applied for
the job. But there was controversy over the qualification of some
candidates selected to replace Fagbohun.

This, among other reasons, necessitated Sanwo-Olu to cancel the
process set up for the appointment of a substantive ninth
Vice-Chancellor of the University.

The Governor then directed that a fresh process that would
terminate in 45 days should commence immediately.

Fagbohun was also directed to convene an emergency Senate
meeting for the purpose of appointing one of the Deputy
Vice-Chancellors, who is not a candidate in the cancelled selection
process, as Acting Vice-Chancellor from Monday, January 11,
2021.

The Senate met and appointed Oyedamola Oke as the acting
vice-chancellor of the institution on Monday, Janaury 11, 2021 –
the same day Fagbohun’s tenure expired.

Thirty-seven days after its constitution, the six-member special
visitation panel chaired by former VC of the Obafemi Awolowo
University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Bamitale Omole, turned in three volumes
of a report to the Governor.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered a
fresh process for the selection of the ninth substantive
Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Information, Gbenga Omotoso,
made this known in a statement on Friday.

This is in line with the recommendations of the Special
Visitation panel set up by the Governor after the crisis that
greeted the initial selection process.

The commissioner also said the governor dissolved the governing
council of the institution and removed the Pro-Chancellor and
Chairman of Council.

A statement by Omotoso read, “The Governor of Lagos State and
the Visitor to the Lagos State University, Mr. Babajide Olusola
Sanwo-Olu, after consideration of the report of the Special
Visitation Panel on the appointment of the 9th Vice-Chancellor and
by the powers conferred on him by the Lagos State University Law,
Cap L69 volume 7, Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (as amended), hereby
adopts the recommendations and directs as follows:

“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.

“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.

“The Governor/Visitor following the recommendation of the
Special Visitation Panel, shall be setting up a full Visitation
Panel for Lagos State University immediately.”

During the initial selection process, a joint Selection
Committee of the Senate and Council was set up by the university to
interview candidates to replace Prof Olarewaju Fagbohun, whose
tenure expired.

The Committee was expected to submit the names of the three best
candidates for the job for onward transmission to the Visitor (the
Lagos State Governor) for the final selection of one successful
candidate for the job.

More than 18 Professors from about 10 universities applied for
the job. But there was controversy over the qualification of some
candidates selected to replace Fagbohun.

This, among other reasons, necessitated Sanwo-Olu to cancel the
process set up for the appointment of a substantive ninth
Vice-Chancellor of the University.

The Governor then directed that a fresh process that would
terminate in 45 days should commence immediately.

Fagbohun was also directed to convene an emergency Senate
meeting for the purpose of appointing one of the Deputy
Vice-Chancellors, who is not a candidate in the cancelled selection
process, as Acting Vice-Chancellor from Monday, January 11,
2021.

The Senate met and appointed Oyedamola Oke as the acting
vice-chancellor of the institution on Monday, Janaury 11, 2021 –
the same day Fagbohun’s tenure expired.

Thirty-seven days after its constitution, the six-member special
visitation panel chaired by former VC of the Obafemi Awolowo
University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Bamitale Omole, turned in three volumes
of a report to the Governor.