* Alleged supremacy battle between University, Pro-Chancellor caused postponement

* Action wicked, inhumane, egoistic and retrogressive聽 —Stakeholders

Web Editor | 绿帽献妻

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Lagos (UNILAG) Chapter, and students have denounced the postponement of the 51st convocation ceremonies of the institution, describing it as 鈥渨icked鈥� and 鈥渋nhumane鈥�.

Daily Trust reports that following the unexpected postponement, the hope of over 13,000 graduating students has been dashed as the Federal Government directed the UNILAG management to suspend its 51st convocation ceremonies earlier slated for March 9鈹�12, 2020.

It is recalled that Prof. Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Tuesday, March 3, addressed a pre-convocation press conference where he announced that 13,489 students would be graduating for the 2018/2019 academic session, out of which 281 are of the First Class division.

Report, however, stated that the convocation ceremonies were suspended over alleged supremacy battle between the University Management and Dr. Wale O. Babalakin, the Pro-Chancellor of UNILAG.

A letter signed by Arc. Sonny S.T. Echono, Permanent Secretary to the Federal Ministry of Education, and addressed to the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), requested him to advise UNILAG鈥檚 Vice-Chancellor to suspend the convocation and ensure full compliance with due process.

鈥淭he attention of the Minister of Education has been drawn to the attached copy of letter dated March 2, 2020, from the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Dr. Babawale O. Babalakin to the effect that the 2019 convocation ceremonies were not approved by the Governing Council in line with the laws of the University.鈥�

However, a statement issued by Dr. Dele Ashiru, Chairman, UNILAG ASUU Chapter, said that preliminary investigations by the union revealed that the postponement was occasioned by the Pro-Chancellor鈥檚 unilateral complaint to the Ministry of Education that the 鈥�2019 convocation ceremonies were not approved by Council鈥� contrary to available evidence.

鈥淥ur Union, therefore, condemns in the strongest terms this wicked, inhumane, egoistic and retrogressive postponement of this historic convocation ceremony on account of the over-bloated ego of the Pro-Chancellor.

鈥淭his latest antic of the Pro-Chancellor has further confirmed our age-long fears about his destructive machinations in the University of Lagos in particular and the entire Nigerian University system in general,鈥� the statement said.

ASUU鈥檚 release further said: 鈥淥therwise, how else can one explain the role of the Pro-Chancellor in the calamitous postponement of a convocation ceremony without any consideration for the psychological trauma this may cause the graduands, their parents, relatives, the image and reputation of the University.

鈥淭his is apart from the huge human, material and financial resources that have been committed to planning the ceremony.

鈥淭hat the Ministry of Education could by fiat request the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) to 鈥榓dvise the Vice-Chancellor to suspend the University鈥檚 convocation ceremony鈥� without investigating the veracity of the Pro-Chancellor鈥檚 claim is not only worrisome but highly depressing.

It is a blatant erosion of academic freedom and University autonomy for which our Union has consistently fought for over the years,鈥� Dr. Ashiru declared in the statement.

He also described the action of the Ministry of Education as an eloquent testimony to the leadership bankruptcy at the helm of affairs of the nation鈥檚 education system.

Some of the university鈥檚 students who spoke to Daily Trust also expressed sadness and disappointment over their inability to graduate as planned.

A graduating student of Theatre Arts, who pleaded anonymity expressed disappointment, saying, the postponement had shattered her plans.

鈥淎 lot of money has been spent to that effect; students, their friends and parents have planned for the ceremony but now, the postponement has rendered all plans useless.

It is really painful because it is clear that those involved do not have the interest of the students at heart,鈥� she said.