Posted on Mar 11, 2020
The National Universities Commission (NUC) stopped the University of Lagos convocation because the Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe “sidelined the Governing Council”, it was learnt on Tuesday.
The VC failed to obtain the Council’s approval for the Convocation Ceremonies.
The NUC expressed shock that the VC allegedly compiled and released the list of those for honourary degrees without seeking the consent of the Council.
The input of the Honours Committee of the Senate and the Senate itself, as prescribed by the Rules Regulations and Law of the University, was not presented to the Council as required under the University Act.
These are contained in the Governing Council resolutions, dated March 7 which were signed by UNILAG Registrar Oladejo Azeez.
The NUC on March 4 suspended the convocation ceremonies fixed for between March 9 and March 13.
The suspension created tension in the university as some staffers accused Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN) of personally halting the proceedings.
In the resolutions, the Governing Council said it had insisted that “Honorary Degrees will not be treated as a chieftaincy title to be given to the highest bidder.”
The resolutions reads: “The Governing Council of the University of Lagos at its meeting held between Tuesday, March 3rd 2020 and Thursday March 5th 2020 deliberated and resolved on the following issues: (i) 2019 Convocation Ceremonies; (ii) Appointment and Promotions of Academic, Administrative & Technical Staff and Junior Members of Staff; (iii) Report of the Sub-committee on University Budget and Budget Performance in the Year 2019 and (iv) Other issues critical to the University of Lagos.
”On Wednesday, March 4th 2020, the Governing Council received and considered the letter from the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) directing Management to suspend the 2019 Convocation Ceremonies slated for Monday 9th March 2020 to Friday 13th March 2020.
“The NUC directive for the suspension of the Convocation Ceremonies was based on the exchange of correspondences between the Pro-Chancellor & Chairman of Council, Dr. Bolanle Olawale Babalakin, SAN, OFR and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin T, Ogundipe, FAS regarding claims that Management failed to obtain Council’s approval for the Convocation Ceremonies.