ASUU Lagos zone accuses Babalakin of meddling in UNILAG affairs

The Lagos Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr Wale Babalakin, of going beyond his constitutional powers to discard recommendations and summon meetings of staff with the aim of dividing the workers.

A statement signed by Olusoji Sobande on behalf of the zone, faulted Babalakin for reinstating someone the Senate had recommended for sack, calling for meetings with non-academic staff, the Senate (despite its autonomy) and the Deans (scheduled for December 11, 2018).

Babalakin chairs the Federal Government’s negotiation team on the ASUU/FGN 2009 Agreement which is currently at loggerheads with the union over the non-implementation of the agreement. The union has been on strike since last month.

The statement reads: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Pro-Chancellor’s activities since assumption of office are best described as autocratic, meddlesome and dictatorial. For example, he not only brooks no opposition during Council meetings because of his over bloated sense of personal importance and intellectual capability.

“He acted like an obsessed Imperial Majesty by ordering the reinstatement of the Director of Sports, contrary to the recommendations of a Senate Committee set up to investigate the various cases of malfeasance against the Director of Sports.

“In addition, the Pro-Chancellor tyrannically ordered the seal- off of an apartment allocated to the immediate past Registrar of the University, without any humane consideration for the family of that person, who has right to respect for her person and family.”

The statement added that the union may be forced to take action to stop Babalakin, who it described as a threat to the University.

“In view of the foregoing illegal and untoward activities of an individual whose professional calling is the defence of law and order, but who has suddenly turned a meddlesome interloper, our Union wishes to put the general public and well-meaning Nigerians on notice that the continuation of Dr. Wale Babalakin as the Pro-Chancellor represents present and future danger to the existence of the University of Lagos. Our union shall vehemently resist this real threat to well-being of our University.

“Consequently, should there be a breakdown of law and order on account of our resistance in the University of Lagos, whether now or in the foreseeable future, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council, Dr. Wale Babalakin SAN, should be held singularly and squarely responsible,” the statement said.