University of Lagos lecturers under the umbrella of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), have passed a vote of no confidence in the pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council, Dr Wale Babalakin.
The decision was taken after a meeting of the lecturers on Wednesday.
Led by ASUU chairman, Dr Dele Ashiru, the lecturers who staged a peaceful protest on the campus The ASUU chairman, Dr Dele Ashiru, said the decision was taken at a congress of the union.
Led by the union’s chairman, Dele Ashiru, the lecturers, who were armed with leaves and placards, accused the council chairman of being selfish in his dealings,.
They accused him of travelling to the UK for a birthday ceremony, at a time the university was meant to hold its convocation.
“Dr Wale Babalakin is now a persona non grata on our campus. We don’t want to see him again anywhere in the university. He is no longer needed,” said Ashiru.
He said other resolutions of the congress would soon be released in a statement.
Reacting to the development, Babalakin said it is not within the power of the lecturers to declare him persona non grata.
Babalakin who spoke with Premium Times from Germany where he had gone for a medical check-up, said he was not appointed by the union and cannot be removed by the union.
He said he did not book his trip until it was clear that the convocation has been postponed.
“These people get a lot of things wrong. Why are they directing their protest at me? I did not postpone the convocation. The NUC did.
“And you said they claimed I travelled to the UK for a birthday? This is ridiculous. I’m in Germany for medical reason and I did not book the trip until the NUC ordered the suspension.”
Babalakin stated that he had not done anything outside the laws governing the university, and that whoever wants to pass comment on the matter should first go through the law establishing the institution and the roles of the governing council.
It would be recalled that UNILAG management led by Prof Toyin Ogundipe, had been embroiled in a fight with the Babalakin-led governing council.
The fight came to a climax with the suspension of the convocation earlier scheduled for Monday, March 9.
