The Federal Government has dismissed media reports that a visitation panel report had indicted the management of University of Lagos (UNILAG) following the leadership crisis that engulfed the university in 2020.
The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Sonny Echono, dismissed the allegations during a news conference in Abuja on Monday.
Echono said the Federal Government was in the process of issuing a white paper on the regular visitation panel committees to address all findings and recommendations, including that of UNILAG.
He added that the Federal Government had earlier issued a White Paper on the report of the 2020 Special Presidential Visitation Panel to UNILAG which culminated in the dissolution of the former Governing Council and the reinstatement of the Vice Cancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe.
He described the claims in the media as false, unfounded and mischievous, as they have no bearing with the report submitted by the Panel.
“When government sets up panels, they are usually for a specific purpose articulated in the terms of reference of each panel which guides the direction the panelists are to carry out their functions.
“In 2020, there was a crisis in UNILAG and a special visitation panel was set up to look at the issues.
“The Federal Government had removed the Vice Chancellor and was given 10 terms of reference to establish the removal of the Vice Chancellor and the appointment of an acting Vice Chancellor.
“The special panel submitted its report which the government considered for a white paper,” he said.
Echono, who said that the report of a special visitation panel was submitted to the ministry on August 31, condemned the distraction coming from the media, saying it was unnecessary and a complete forgery.
“It is unfortunate this is coming from the media, we do not deserve this distraction. We should be allowed to focus on restoring our university systems.
“The white paper for the special visitation panel to the schools in the public domain and the media can request for it.”
Echono, however, said that the government would explore all avenues to bring the culprits in the malicious publication to book.
President Muhammadu Buhari, had in 2020, dissolved the governing council of the university over the leadership crisis that engulfed the institution, reinstating the suspended vice-chancellor.
He directed that all allegations made against the vice chancellor and the management of the university before and after the constitution of the “Special Visitation Panel” be referred to the “Regular Visitation Panel.
