- “Recent activities in the university indicate that these abuses have reached unprecedented levels, including consistent, brazen and gross mismanagement of the university’s finances, contract awards without due process, payments without valid contracts/approvals, contract overpayment, contract splitting, spending above the budgetary provisions and non-compliance with inter-control requirements.
The House of Representatives has resolved to intervene in the crisis rocking the University of Lagos, Akoka, including investigating the alleged breach of procurement law by the management.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by the lawmaker representing Karu/Keffi/Kokona Federal Constituency, Nasarawa State and Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Gaza Gbefwi.
The motion was titled, ‘Need for urgent investigation into allegations of gross statutory breaches, including violation of the Public Procurement Act 2007 by the management and governing council of the University of Lagos.’
The House resolved to mandate the Joint Committee on Public Procurement to “investigate the alleged violations of the Public Procurement Act and abuses of other public service rules and regulations, and report back to the House within five working days for further legislative action.”
Moving the motion, Gbefwi said, “The House notes that contrary to its statutory mandate and powers, past and present management of the university had operated the institution in a manner that breaches extant laws, rules and regulations applicable to public service.
“Recent activities in the university indicate that these abuses have reached unprecedented levels, including consistent, brazen and gross mismanagement of the university’s finances, contract awards without due process, payments without valid contracts/approvals, contract overpayment, contract splitting, spending above the budgetary provisions and non-compliance with inter-control requirements.
“Numerous senior officials of the past and current administration are involved in this abuse, including former and current vice-chancellors, former and current deputy vice-chancellors, former registrar, former and current bursars, current head of procurement, current dean of student affairs, current director of academic planning and current director of foundation programme.”
The lawmaker added that there were also allegations against the governing council of the university, particularly the Chairman, Dr Wale Babalakin.
He said it was alleged that the chairman championed the investigation of the past and current management of the university because of personal reasons, including his desire to chair the tenders board of the university, contrary to Section 22(2) of the Public Procurement Act 2007.
He noted that contrary to the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007 and extant guidelines and regulations from the Bureau of Public Procurement, the former and current management of UNILAG had “grossly abused the public procurement system, resulting in huge losses to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
It was reported that the Registrar of UNILAG, Oladejo Azeez, allegedly gave queries to some management workers and lecturers at the university.
Azeez, who is the secretary to the governing council, was said to be acting on Babalakin’s instruction.
The registrar was also served a query by the VC after he issued a statement against the Academic Staff Union of Universities, UNILAG chapter, which criticised the council chairman for the queries.
Azeez was accused of usurping the authority of the VC, whom he was supposed to be reporting to.
