Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered for a fresh process leading to the appointment of a substantive ninth Vice-Chancellor for Lagos State University, LASU.
Sanwo-Olu who is the Visitor to Lagos State University directed that a fresh process that would terminate in 45 days should commence immediately having cancelled the ongoing process set up which is frost with controversy.
The decision of the governor was contained in a statement issued by Gboyega Akosile, chief press secretary to the governor.
According to the statement issued on Friday titled, ‘Sanwo-Olu cancels ongoing appointment of LASU VC, orders fresh process’ the decision for the cancellation came after a thorough investigation and stakeholders engagement, which were necessitated by various petitions against the selection process”.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu was inundated with petitions arising from the selection process of the Vice-Chancellor by the Governing Council. After a thorough evaluation and investigation of the various complaints, Mr. Governor, in his capacity as the Visitor to the University ordered the cancellation of the process.
The statement further directed Olanrewaju Fagbohun, the outgoing Vice-Chancellor 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, when the tenure of the incumbent Vice-Chancellor, Fagbohun expires.
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“The Governor further directed that the Senate should select among its members, a pro tem chairman to superintend the meeting and conduct of the election of Acting Vice-Chancellor.”
It would be recalled that the selection process for the candidate to replace the 8th vice chancellor of the Lagos State University have been plague by controversy over the qualification of some candidates for the post of the vice chancellor.
Aggrieved LASU stakeholders petitioned Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, alleging that the Governing Council and the outgoing vice-chancellor have manipulated the selection exercise to favour two anointed professors.
The two petitions from Concerned Academic Staff of LASU, dated December 29, and Concerned Alumni of the University, signed by their lawyer, Yakubu Eleto, and dated December 30, pleaded with Governor Sanwo-Olu to cancel the entire exercise because of the observed irregularities before and during the interview.
