Reinstated Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has debunked rumours doing the rounds that he had compiled a list of workers to sack or punish.
The VC resumed on Thursday and was a given a rousing welcome by the university community.
Ogundipe was controversially removed from office on August 12, following alleged financial impropriety and gross misconduct.
The university’s Visitor, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, approved the VC’s reinstatement.
He faulted the dissolved Wale Babalakin-led Governing Council for not following due process in removing the vice chancellor.
Ogundipe, who addressed the workers from the foyer of the university’s Senate Building, said: “I have no intention to sack or punish any member of staff as have been speculated in some quarters. I have no list of workers I want to sack or punish.
“You have invested years of your lives into this university. Let us be united. It is not about academic or non-academic staff; it is about UNILAG. Let us all work together and allow peace to reign. We are committed to moving the university forward.”
The vice chancellor restated his commitment to the cause of the university and promised to make it an international brand.
“We will make the university a global brand. The management runs an open administration policy. I have not recklessly looted the university. Since 1996, I have held a number of positions here and I have not been found wanting. I am committed to giving my best to this university,” he said.
Thanking President Buhari and other stakeholders, Ogundipe described the erstwhile Acting VC, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, as a reliable and thoroughbred academic.
Ogunsola said no individual was bigger than the institution, stressing that UNILAG could internally sort out its challenges.
“Today is a day of victory. It is a day to celebrate the university. It calls for introspection. Together we stand; divided we fall. There is no problem within the university that we cannot solve. We should not externalise our problems. Despite our problems, we recognise that UNILAG is bigger than any individual. Nobody can debrand us,” she said.
Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UNILAG chapter, Dr. Dele Ashiru, slammed the Chairman of the Special Visitation Panel, Prof. Tukur Sa’ad, for saying he regretted endorsing the report of the panel.
“We are sweeping tyranny, impunity and divisiveness away from our university. The victory is for the people. It is not for Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), or Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU),” he said.
The branch Chairman of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Kehinde Ajibade, also praised Ogunsola for his reliability and trustworthiness.
He urged the VC to prioritise workers’ welfare.
Ogunsola later did a formal handover to Ogundipe inside the VC’s office.

By Damola Kola-Dare