UNILAG' s Registrar and Secretary to Council, Oladejo Azeez, said that ASUU has clearly shown that it was a group that did not adhere to the Constitution of Nigeria or the Trade Union law, which it was a part of. He told me that a committee of the Alumni Association was sinking its teeth into the matter and he would like me to join the committee, a suggestion I readily accepted. Our universities have lost a substantial part of their academic freedom largely because they are not ready to defend it. To be sure, UNILAG is a public space that belongs to all Nigerians and no one, not even the Visitor President Muhammadu Buhari, can declare anyone persona non grata. UNILAG is a public place, not ASUU’s private parlour from which it can arrogantly issue dictatorial directives. The national body of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Wednesday, rejected the removal of Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG). While Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, was said to have been removed, a statement came out yesterday insisting that it was null and void. Contrary to a widespread report by a social media outfit that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is in a crucial meeting, on Monday, at University of Lagos(UNILAG) Akoka, to decide whether they would call off their ongoing nine-month strike, the union has debunked the report, describing it… “As a responsible council, we will not engage ASUU UNILAG on issues that are beyond its duties, powers and responsibilities under the laws of Nigeria,” he said. But it is actually university egg-heads that are engaging in such a classical trade union, chauvinist put-down with war-zone ethics. However, a statement by the Registrar, Mr. Oladejo Azeez, made available to our correspondent on Sunday night, decried the proposed action by ASUU and wanted against a breach of peace on … The worst is the inane declaration of the Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Babalakin a persona non grata on the campus of UNILAG, a campus that does not belong to ASUU. Reading Time: 3min 0 0. - Among persons and groups that have commented on the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari is ASUU - The UNILAG chapter of the union hailed the president's resolve which it described as a victory for the rule of law. In the letter the chairman complained about the Pro-Chancellor’s alleged “anti-academic, anti-intellectual, authoritarian, Gestapo and fascist behaviour” which according to him “represents present and future threat to peace, law and order and unhindered academic pursuit by staff and students of this great university.”. The two men were gracious enough to grant me audience during which they also willingly gave me some documents on the issues in contention. They even told one of the universities, Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria which seemed to have a surfeit of socialist intellectuals not to teach socialism. There does not seem to be an end in sight over the tussle on who becomes the Vice Chancellor, UNiversity of Lagos. During our many years of military rule, some of the military dictators had actually put road blocks on the path to the attainment of a large measure of academic freedom. Obviously, ASUU, University of Lagos Chapter has shown clearly that it is a group that does not adhere to the Constitution of Nigeria or the Trade Union law which it is a part of. I availed the committee of the information I got from both parties. The Alumni Intervention Committee is determined to get the matter resolved amicably but that process can be muddied by parties that choose to take partisan positions. There are doubts over the Nigerian government’s commitment to “faithfully implement” the agreement it recently reached with the country’s university lecturers. In the same manner, the ASUU leadership in Unilag that seeks to take away the freedom of the Pro-Chancellor seems unable to understand that what goes around comes around. âIt is our conviction that this decision by the government will return our great university to the path of peace, progress and scholarly excellence for which the university is renowned,ââ he said. ASUU’s leadership should have learnt a lesson from what happened a few months ago to the Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr. David Umahi who was whipped hard with the koboko of public opinion when he declared two journalists persona non grata. Is it ASUU’s desire to inject chaos into a crisis that is already threatening to dent the reputation of that eminent institution? Universities Not Under ASUU:- The main reason for researching and publishing this article, is to provide information about the list of Universities that are not under ASUU. Salami, Dr. Olajide Abbas, Mr. Adebowale Thompson and Senator Dipo Odujirin, among others. The University of Lagos (UNILAG… The UNILAG Chairman of ASUU, Dr. Dele Ashiru, had in a statement last week said Babalakin would not be welcomed on campus and both have set Wednesday for their activities on the same campus. They had no idea that there is no free lunch and that they were mortgaging their academic freedom in the process. 0. ”We learnt sometimes ago that some people sleep around the library and do you know that half of those … The violent language employed in our political space seems to take a cue from the physical violence prevalent everywhere every day. That is why it is the university of first choice for many students who want a place where they can study and graduate with minimum disruption to the calendar of their lives. UNILAG: Visitation panel, ASUU and the brand. If they themselves are only exemplary in learning where is the exemplariness in their own character? Remembering Ajibola Ige — An ecumenical spirit, Zulum and his professors in local government, Niger stages historic elections despite jihadist attacks, Thousands without power, planes delayed as storm Bella lashes France, Nigeria women affairs minister tests positive to COVID19, Seven dead after knife attack in northeastern China, Nigeria should avoid another COVID-19 lockdown in 2021, Three killed, three wounded in Illinois shooting. When you deprive someone of freedom you invariably deprive yourself of it too because you have lost the freedom to speak in defence of your own freedom. Right? If a trade union that is populated by professors and Ph.D holders chooses to behave in a such a ruffianly fashion, the question to ask is “where is their refinement and their sense of propriety?” They ask their undergraduates to be exemplary in character and learning. We went that low but analysts blamed this on the sycophancy of many university professors who were crawling and hustling at the corridors of power, begging to be crowned Vice Chancellors. I am aware that the Alumni Intervention Committee has appealed to ASUU and NASU, the two trade unions in the university, to maintain neutrality in the matter and avoid a situation that is capable of worsening the crisis. Whatever message he intended to convey to the Minister was tragically vitiated by the violent and uncouth language deployed in the letter. It was reported that ASUU recently threatened a showdown with the University of Lagos, if its Pro-Chancellor, Dr Wale Babalakin, should visit the institution. The ASUU-UNILAG Chairman, Dr. Dele Ashiru, told The Nation that it was the right step in the right direction. I Don’t Believe Nigerian Government Will Implement Agreement, ASUU’s Unilag Chairman Says. According to him, the reinstatement is also a step to further boost the governmentâs effort in restoring peace in the entire university community. However, the redeeming feature is that a sane voice has spoken out in condemnation of what Dr Ashiru and his officials have done.