ASUU Faults LASU's Vice-Chancellor Selection Process

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the Lagos State University (LASU) has faulted the selection process for the University's ninth Vice-Chancellor to replace Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, whose tenure expires on January 11.

ASUU in its letter dated January 1, 2021,  addressed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described the selection process as controversial and expressed concern over alleged irregularities by the selection committee.

The union in the letter signed by its Secretary, Tony Dansu, and Assistant Secretary, Adeolu Oyekan on Friday, alleged that some of the candidates who lack the requisite qualifications for the position, even made it to the final three candidates shortlisted for the next Vice-Chancellor. 

ASUU insisted that the Selection Committee ought to have presented  the selection criteria for the new Vice-Chancellor to the University's new Governing Council, before publishing the advertisement for the position.

The union stressed the urgent need for the governor to review the shortlisted names , by removing those not qualified from the list  to avoid impending crisis in the University .

ASUU's letter to Sanwo-Olu,read in part, “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.

“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 in 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-person list reportedly submitted to the Visitor.”