ASUU-LASU writes Sanwo-Olu, kicks against ‘controversial selection process’ of VC

The Lagos State University (LASU) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has written to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, over what the union described as the “controversial selection process” of the institution’s ninth vice-chancellor.

The union, in the letter dated January 1, 2021, which was signed by Tony Dansu, its secretary, and Adeolu Oyekan, assistant secretary, alleged irregularities by the Adebayo Ninalowo-led committee in the selection process of the institution’s new vice-chancellor.

There are reports that the Ninalowo-led committee has submitted three names of candidates for the position to Sanwo-Olu.

The tenure of Olanrewaju Fagbohun, the incumbent vice chancellor, will come to an end on January 11.

In its letter, ASUU-LASU claimed lack of requisite qualifications of some candidates, and added that before the advertisement for the position, the selection criteria was not presented to the new governing council.

“We wish to express in very clear terms, our disappointment in the way and manner the selection process was made to deviate from established university norms, thereby bringing the institution into disrepute,” the union said.

“For us, we are less concerned about the personal and extra academic issues that are being brought into the contests by surrogates of some of the contestants, based on our belief that it is always better and profitable to focus on the fidelity of the process. Almost always, good processes result to good products.

“To make matters worse, it would appear that the Selection Committee was unable to abide by the conditions stipulated in the advertisement for the position of Vice Chancellor, as candidates who did not meet some of the clearly stated criteria (i.e., possessing 10 years post-professorial experience and having supervised PhD theses), scaled the shortlisting stage and even made it to the three (3) person list reportedly submitted to the Visitor.”

ASUU-LASU urged Sanwo-Olu to review the list of successful candidates sent to him and strike out the names of candidates who did not meet the stated requirements for the “sake of justice, transparency and the avoidance of crisis in the University”.

“Given the heat generated so far by the process, it is important that the Visitor intervenes within the ambits of the law to ensure a hitch-free resolution. In a case where the list before the Visitor contains any name that does not meet any of the clearly stated requirements, it is only fair, for the sake of justice, transparency and the avoidance of crisis in the University, for such to be struck off the list. The Visitor may then consider only those who meet the basic conditions,” ASUU-LASU said.

“In a situation where none of the reportedly sent names meets any of the requirements, we recommend a review of the selection process. Since the University Law stipulates a recommendation of at least three names to the Visitor, we believe he may have to request from the Committee, the full list of all the applicants, and review the process to determine whether any of them meets the advertised conditions.

“Failure to find any applicant appointable from the full pool of applicants, we request a cancellation of the entire process, with a fresh one commenced and concluded within the shortest possible time, preferably not exceeding a period of sixty (60) days.”