The Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Theophilus O. Soyombo, has stepped down, ten days into his appointment by the governing council of the institution.
Professor Soyombo, in a statement he personally signed on Saturday, said that his decision to step down followed the directive by the Federal Government asking the University Senate to nominate an Acting VC for the University for confirmation by the Governing Council.
University of Lagos crisis deepens as council sacks Vice Chancellor
UNILAG Crisis: Buhari suspends Babalakin, Ogundipe, rejects Acting VC
The Governing Council of the University, led by Wale Babalakin, had, at an emergency meeting on August 12, 2020, removed Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe from office as VC with immediate effect, accusing him of wrong doing, gross misconduct, financial recklessness and abuse of office.
Following Ogundipe’s removal, the governing council announced Professor Soyombo of the Faculty of Social Sciences as the Acting VC of the University.
The embattled VC, Prof. Ogundipe had described his purported removal as illegal.
The governing council’s action generation mixed reactions from different quarters.
Intervening in the crisis, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, directed the pro-chancellor and the embattled vice-chancellor of the university to step aside while a special panel investigates the crisis rocking the university.
The President also directed the Senate of the school to convene to nominate an acting vice-chancellor from among its members for the confirmation of the university’s council while he gave the special visitation panel two weeks to submit its report.
Soyombo’s statement on Saturday reads: “The news of the setting up of a special visitation panel to the University of Lagos by the Federal Government was received in the evening of Friday, August 21, 2020.
“The government also directed the University Senate to nominate an Acting Vice Chancellor for the University, for confirmation by the Governing Council,”
“With this, I am stepping down, with immediate effect, as Acting VC of the University.
“I wish to express my sincere appreciation to all members of staff and our dear students, the staff unions, alumni and the general public for their wonderful support and cooperation in the past ten days since my appointment as Acting VC of the University on August 12, 2020.”
He noted that he had accepted the offer to serve as a call to service with the objective of restoring peace and stability in the university.
“It is my prayer that the peace and stability that we so much need and desire at this time be restored very quickly, so that the university of Lagos can continue to march on as the University of first choice and the nation’s pride.”
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
