BREAKING: Sanwo-Olu Nullifies Appointment Of LASU VC, To Announce Acting Vice-Chancellor

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos, has cancelled the ongoing process for the appointment of a new vice-chancellor for the Lagos State University (LASU).

Gboyega Akosile, the governor’s chief press secretary, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

He said the governor made the decision following petitions arising from the selection process of the institution’s ninth substantive VC.

According to sources, barring any last-minute changes, the governor will announce the appointment of a professor of Sociology at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Wahab Elias, as the institution’s acting vice-chancellor.

Mr Elias, who is the incumbent deputy vice-chancellor in charge of academics, would take over from the outgoing 8th substantive vice-chancellor, Olanrewaju Fagbohun, whose tenure ends on Monday, January 11.

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The announcement is expected to be made today (Friday) by the chief press secretary to the governor, Gboyega Akosile.

Premium Times reported that when contacted, Mr Akosile asked to be given time to speak on the matter.

Confirming the new development to PREMIUM TIMES on the phone, a reliable source who was part of the decision, said Mr Elias will occupy the position for a period of 45 days during which a new selection process for a substantive vice-chancellor will be conducted.

Though the institution’s governing council had shortlisted five applicants out of which three were nominated for eventual possible appointment of one by the governor, stakeholders had kicked against the process.

The governor is thus believed to have nullified the nomination of the professors – Olumuyiwa Odusanya, Sena Bakre and Kabir Akinyemi – who were shortlisted for the position.

Meanwhile, Mr Sanwo-Olu has also reportedly refused to dissolve the joint council and senate committee of the university that conducted the nullified selection process. He is expected to, however, order a fresh process with a new advertisement to be made in the national dailies.

According to the source, the entire process is expected to be completed within the next 45 days and the acting vice-chancellor should not exceed the 45 days in office.

Mr Elias who hails from Ikorodu, Lagos East Senatorial District, is a professor of Sociology with specialisation in Demography of Agein.

He also obtained a degree in Law in 2007 from Lagos State University and presented his inaugural lecture in 2017, ranking the third alumnus of the university to present his inaugural lecture.