Gbenro Adesina
The Non Academic Staff of the University of Ibadan (UI) has disrupted the on-going election of the 2020/2025 Senate Representatives on Joint Council/Senate Joint Selection Board for the appointment of the 13th Vice Chancellor of the nation’s Premier University, which was mandated by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu.
According to the information gathered, shortly after the non academic staff finished their congress today, they stormed Trenchard Hall, the venue of the election and chased everyone away.
It was gathered that the Deputy Registrar, Mrs Morenike A. Afolabi and other staff of the institution, who were conducting the election were chased away, but Senate members are still on ground.
One of the Senate members said, “We are not going to anywhere. We are here and we will be here until the registrar tells us that the election can no longer hold. That is when we will leave”.
It is sad that a group of people can be behaving this way. How can you think that you are more than the system. Now it is show that they are bias umpire. They are working for somebody that we do not know. Whatever happens, truth will prevail. But I want them to know that we all own this university. Let me tell you, they do not have monopoly of violence, but we have decided never to join issue with them. ASUU members cannot behave the way they are behaving”.
It will be recalled that non academic staff led by SSANU Chairman, Wale Akinremi, on Wednesday October 21, 2020, disrupted the Selection Board Meeting convoke to appoint a new Vice Chancellor for the university.
The aggrieved staff are demanding that two of the contestants: Professor Kayode Adebowale, the institution Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic and Professor Olufemi Mimiko, former Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, be disqualified from the contest forthwith.
As at the time of filing this report, normalcy is said to have returned as the Deputy Registrar, and other staff have returned and continue with the election under tight security.
