Students seek FG’s intervention over Unilag conflict

Some students of the University of Lagos have called on the Federal Government and other key stakeholders in the university to urgently intervene in the conflict between the institution’s pro-chancellor and its management.

There has been tension in the institution in recent time following series of queries issued to about eight key management staff, including the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe.

It was reported  that the Registrar of the institution, Mr Oladejo Azeez, issued the queries on the orders of the Pro Chancellor, Dr Wale Babalakin. The queries were said to be bordered on misappropriation of funds and travelling without permission, among other issues.

Some management staff of the university have however, said that the queries did not follow due process. Mr Jerry Ukazionu, a third year student of business administration said that urgent intervention of the Federal Government would avoid degeneration of the conflict.

According to him, strange persons armed and dressed in black paraded around the institution’s council chamber on Monday, creating fear in students. “The strange men, numbering over 12, are looking combat-ready.

We actually saw them taking strategic positions there. “On inquiry, we were told that they were bouncers,’’ he said.

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He noted that an emergency meeting of the university’s Five UNILAG students in court for gang-raping colleaguecouncil was slated for Monday and Tuesday at the chambers. “We are feeling insecure with all these,” he said.

Another student, Japhet Uche, who refused to mention his department, also frowned at the development, and called for peaceful resolution of the conflict. Dr Dele Ashiru, the Chairman of the university’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), described the presence of the armed men as `siege’ to the campus. According to him, the armed men were brought by Babalakin.

“This whole thing is coming to us as a surprise. That the pro-chancellor can carry out such a siege on an institution of this pedigree, leaves a lot to be desired. “We are watching keenly to see how these whole thing plays out. We condemn this in absolute terms,” he said.

Dr Olubunmi Ajibade, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, told NAN that ASUU was not against probing anybody who violated financial regulation or operating outside his or her mandate.

He, however, said that ASUU was worried at the manner the issue was being handled.