The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige,  said this when he received members of the government side of the 2009 Federal Government/University based unions agreement re-negotiation committee led by its chairman, Prof. Nimi Briggs, on Monday in Abuja.

Ngige said this in a statement signed by Patience Onuobia, the Acting Head, Press and Public Relations, in the ministry.

The minister was speaking against the backdrop of the ongoing strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

He said that as the conciliator, he had been pushing to see that everything contained in the 2020 Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, signed by the government and the union was done, including the implementation of the renegotiated positions.

He recalled that the renegotiation commenced in 2017 when the federal government inaugurated a committee headed by Wale Babalakin who was later replaced by Prof. Munzali Jibril, but COVID-19 struck in 2020.

The minister said that in the December 2020 agreement, he gave the government side a timeline to return to the university unions who are their employees to sort everything out.

“I started pushing to see that things were done. What the Munzali committee came up with is a proposal. Both Munzali and ASUU did not sign. At our last meeting in February before ASUU proceeded on strike, we said everyone should go back to his principal.

“I asked Education several times what they had done with the document. We later got information on areas of disagreement. There is nothing wrong with that. It is bound to happen. I told ASUU to put up a committee, they said Munzali committee had expired.

“As a conciliator, I have to make use of the labour instruments at my disposal. The bosses in the Federal Ministry of Education do not feel the strike. There are things that are above me. I am not Minister of Education.

“I cannot go to the Education minister and dictate to him how to run his place. But I told ASUU that you should be bombarding them at the Federal Ministry of Education for this to be moved forward. There are many ways to do so,” he said.

According to him, if you go to the labour act there is something called picketing. You can picket, strike is an ultimate thing.

“Picketing means that you can stay at the corridor, clapping or singing. Workers are permitted to do so. But every time there is a disagreement, it is strike.

“It is the children and some of us parents that have our children in public schools. I have my children in public universities, including those on my foundation’s scholarship and sponsorship.

“So, I am a parent. I feel it. I didn’t send my children to Igbinedion or Afe Babalola or Cambridge,” he said.

He said the Nigerian university system produced him and he remained proud of it.

“Why won’t I support if ASUU and their unions now want a renegotiation of their conditions of service, which is the main thing in the proposal by previous Munzali committee.”

Also speaking, Prof. Briggs, who is also the Pro Chancellor of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndifu Alike, Ebonyi State, said the renegotiation committee was consulting all stakeholders with a view to finding a lasting solution to issues in dispute.

Source: NAN

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He made the call at the just concluded 2021 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Lagos Branch, with the theme: Disruption, Innovation And The Bar.

Speaking as a panelist on the topic ‘Career Development: Strategies For Professional Growth,’ Babalakin said the overhaul should start from the training of lawyers in the universities and the Nigerian Law School.

He regretted that unlike in the past when high premium was placed on quality, emphasis currently is on the quantity of lawyers produced.

Babalakin recalled that when he was a law student at the University of Lagos, UNILAG, between 1978 and 1981, the faculty was so well structured that a large tutorial class would have about 10 students, adding that “in the process, you are able to engage your teachers and learn in detail and he will be able to identify all the talents in you.”

He stressed that “then, there was the general consensus that once you did well at UNILAG, you could do well anywhere around the world,” and said that “ I’m not blaming the young people, I’m blaming the system that has created this confusion that we have today. The system lays so much emphasis on quantum, instead of quality.”

The learned silk, while also calling for a redesign of the curriculum of the Nigerian Law School argued that “there should be separate curriculum clearly defined for those who want to leave the law school and go to the corporate world and those leaving the law school and go to the bar.”

He said that “Today, you have a judicial system that is far cry from what I met when I started coming to the bar in 1982.”

Citing examples, he said “criminal cases that seems to take forever these days were being presided over in those days by a Judge or set of Judges. The lawyers were so prepared that trials were being concluded in three days; one day for the prosecutors to present witnesses and conduct cross-examination; another day for the defence and the next day for the address.”

He recalled that “It was impossible then for a lawyer or prosecutor to start seeking for adjournment. There was serious consequences for trying to seek for an adjournment when somebody is facing trial. It was impossible for a lawyer to come in and say he is not ready. That was possible because the quality of training we had and the discipline we got was very high. But routinely now, simple trials go on for years at the convenience of counsels. This is not right.”

Babalakin said “We have to invest more in teaching in the universities and make the law school more viable and relevant. We can have a session for advocates and another session for those who want to be solicitors, but it is unfair to the system that we all go to crowd the court learning in the court and sometimes displaying lack of preparation.

He stressed that “in addition, you must find a chamber to accept you as a pupil. After a successful pupilage, you can then be considered for tenancy. It is not sufficient that you have a degree in Law. We have to enhance our legal system comprehensively.”

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In a statement by its Group Corporate Affairs Manager, Mikail Mumuni, BASL said Salu, who was the Head of Operations of BASL died on Thursday after a brief illness.

Mumuni quoted the chairman of BASL, Dr. Wale Babalakin, as describing the death of Salu as “a big loss to the company, his family and the Nigerian Aviation sector.”

“Bolaji was a hardworking and diligent person who will be dearly missed by the Board, Management and Staff of BASL, his family and his colleagues in the aviation sector in general,” Babalakin further said.

Salu who joined the services of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited since its inception is survived by his wife, two children and parents.

Mumuni said the company, working in conjunction with the family will announce the funeral rites of the deceased at a later date.

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Ogundipe was said to have been removed without following due process.

The announcement was made on Wednesday in Abuja by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, in a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Relations, Mr Ben Goong.

The decisions, he said, followed Buhari’s acceptance of the recommendations of the Special Visitation Panel set up to probe the crisis that rocked the institution.

The statement reads: “President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Visitor to the University of Lagos has approved the Report of the Special Visitation Panel to the University of Lagos.

“The highlights of the findings and recommendations approved by Mr. President are as follows:

“i) The removal of Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe as the Vice Chancellor did not follow due process.

“ii) The Vice Chancellor was not granted an opportunity to defend himself on the allegations upon which his removal was based. He should accordingly be re-instated.

“iii) All allegations made against the Vice Chancellor and the management of the University before and after the Constitution of the Special Visitation Panel should be referred to regular Visitation Panel for thorough investigation and necessary recommendations.

“iv) The process adopted by the Council in the appointment of Professor Omololu Soyombo as Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University was inconsistent with the provisions of the Law relating to the appointment of an Acting Vice-Chancellor.

“v) The Governing Council should be dissolved.

“Mr. President after careful review of the report has approved all the recommendations of the Panel.

“Accordingly: i) Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe is hereby reinstated as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos.

“ii) The Governing Council of the University of Lagos Chaired by Dr. B. O. Babalakin is hereby dissolved.

“Mr. President hopes these steps will bring peace, stability, focus and direction to the University.”

It would be recalled that Ogundipe was sacked by the Wale Babalakin-led governing council over alleged financial malpractices.

However, following protest over the manner he was removed, the president set up a special visitation panel to probe the removal of the vice chancellor with the aim of ensuring justice and peace in the institution.

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He stated that there were too many vested interests in the crisis that rocked the University of Lagos recently, a situation that led to the sack of the vice chancellor, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, by the Babalakin-led governing council.

In his letter of resignation to the Minister of Education, Professor Adamu Adamu, and dated September 15, 2020, Babalakin said his action was informed by the presence of too many vested interests in the UNILAG crisis.

The letter reads: “Recent events have made my position in these two offices untenable. I led the Governing Council of the University to remove the Vice-Chancellor of the University from office for amongst other reasons: (a) Corruption and financial recklessness; (b) Forgery; (c) Complicity in the collapse of the University library and planned cover up; (d) Deliberate policy of wrongfully concealing information; (e) Depriving the Faculties in the University of funds; (f) Concealing and distorting finances of the Internally Generating Units of the University; (g) Undermining the academic process and seeking to appoint a Professor by fiat; (h) Siphoning of the University’s funds through dubious contract awards; (i) Undermining the office of the Registrar; (j) Failure to follow due process in organizing the University’s convocation ceremony; and (k) Sponsoring or acquiescing in the unconstitutional actions of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Lagos chapter.”

He added: “Sir, it is noteworthy that all the Federal Government Representatives who are the independent members on the Governing Council voted for the removal of the Vice-Chancellor. After calm had been restored in the University, the Visitor acting, within his powers, set up a Presidential Visitation Panel to review the actions taken by Governing Council.

“The Vice-Chancellor (who had been removed from office) and myself were told to recuse ourselves for the duration of the Visitation Panel. I find it difficult to understand how a non-executive Chairman of a Governing Council could be requested to recuse himself during the visitation.

“The Vice-Chancellor could only recuse himself if he were still in office. Implicit in this position is that the Vice-Chancellor was acknowledged as still being in office despite his removal.”

It would be recalled that the vice chancellor of UNILAG, Ogundipe was removed at an emergency meeting of the governing council held in Abuja over alleged financial impropriety among other sins.

Ogundipe however protested his removal saying he was not given a fair hearing.

He therefore insisted that he remained the vice chancellor of the institution.

The governing council however went ahead to appoint Professor Theophilus Soyombo as the acting vice chancellor.

The Senate of the institution also protested, saying the removal of the vice chancellor did not follow due process, a situation which led to the Federal Government setting up a visitation panel to probe the crisis.

Both Babalakin and Ogundipe were asked to recuse.

Soyombo had to vacate the office of the vice chancellor too.

Deputy Vice Chancellor for Development Services, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, was appointed the acting vice chancellor.

The visitation panel which has concluded its job was reported to have submitted its report to the government on Thursday.

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She is the Deputy Vice Chancellor in Charge of Development Services, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, and first female to occupy the office in the institution.

Her election followed the directive to that effect by the Federal Government which suspended the Chairman of the institution’s governing council, Dr. Wale Babalakin, and former Vice Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe.

Ogunsola defeated her opponent, Deputy Vice Chancellor in Charge of Management Services, Ben Oghojafor, by 135 votes to 31 during the election held on Monday.

Ogunsola is a Professor of Medical Microbiology.

It would be recalled that following the crisis that rocked the removal of Ogundipe as the vice chancellor of UNILAG by the Wale Babalakin-led governing council at an emergency meeting in Abuja, the Federal Government set up a panel to address the bone of contention.

The government ordered the election of a new Acting Vice Chancellor to replace Professor Theophilus Soyombo who was appointed by the governing council after the removal of Ogundipe.

The panel set up by the government was given two weeks to complete its assignment.

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The declaration is part of the resolutions taken at its emergency meeting held on Thursday over the sack of Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as the Vice Chancellor by the governing council.

Also, the Senate rejected the council’s appointment of Professor Theophilus Omololu Soyombo as the Acting Vice Chancellor of the university.

While rejecting the removal of Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as Vice Chancellor by the Governing Council, the Senate reaffirmed its confidence in him, declaring him the genuine office holder.

In its assessment of the removal of Ogundipe, the Senate said the Governing Council violated Section 3(8), (9), (10) and (11) of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions)(Amendment ) Act, 2003 on the removal of the Vice-Chancellor of any Federal University in Nigeria.

The Senate said contrary to the rule, it was not invited to participate in any Joint Committee of Council and Senate.

Other infractions, the Senate stated, included that:

“It (Senate) received the news of the removal of the Vice Chancellor from office of the social media.

“The purported appointment of an Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos breaches Section 3(8)(13) of the Act.

“Due process was not followed in the purported appointment of the Acting Vice Chancellor as the Senate was neither informed nor invited to forward its recommendation to Council.

“Its functions and its powers have been completely appropriated by the Council in breach of the Law.”

It would be recalled that the Governing Council on Wednesday removed Ogundipe as Vice Chancellor and appointed Soyombo to act.

Ogundipe had, in a swift reaction, declared that he remained the Vice Chancellor of the institution.

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He was removed from office at an emergency meeting of the governing council held in Abuja on Tuesday.

The meeting was said to be at the instance of Babalakin and notice signed by the university’s registrar, Oladejo Azeez.

A reliable source said during the meeting, Professor Adebayo Ninalowo, asked Ogundipe to excuse them after which a vote was cast for his removal.

It was gathered that seven people voted against him while four were in his support.

“We are very sad,” said a UNILAG lecturer in a brief interview with our correspondent.

According to him, the removal of the vice chancellor could not be justified in any way, particularly considering his laudable achievements within his short period.

He said there had not been any official reaction from ASUU yet as the news broke less than an hour when our correspondent spoke with him on phone.

It would be recalled that Babalakin had been at loggerhead over the institution’s 51^st convocation which was scheduled to hold from March 9 to 12.

The convocation was suspended by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, following the complaint by Babalakin that due process was not followed in arriving at the decision to hold the convocation.

Angered by the development, the UNILAG chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, passed a vote of no confidence on Babalakin.

According to the chairman of ASUU, Dele Ashiru, Babalakin should not step into the university.

His words: “Dr. Wale Babalakin is now a persona non grata on our campus. We don’t want to see him again anywhere in the university. He is no longer needed.”

Attempt by the governing council to meet at the university last month was resisted as the lecturer insisted that Babalakin remained persona non grata.

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I had greatly debated with myself whether I should write a tribute to Chief Bode Akindele. This is more so, considering that my close relationship with Chief Akindele was for about 5 years. I believe that there are so many people who knew him for a longer period of time and thus are more qualified to write a proper tribute.

I resolved to write this tribute primarily to inform the younger generation about the great vision and strides a confident Nigerian businessman can make on the global stage especially when the individual is focused and determined, rather than being weighed down by perceived disadvantages and other misconceptions.

Four Nigerian businessmen have had great effect on my entrepreneurial interest. Chief Bode Akindele was one of them.

The other individual whom I will mention in this tribute is Mr. Wilberforce Olusegun Odulate. It was Mr. Odulate who made me realise that academic disposition and entrepreneurial activities were not irreconcilable. Having been brought up in a family of professionals, all I was primed to do from youth was to be a successful legal practitioner and be elevated to the Bench or remain as a practitioner in the Bar.

Chief Bode Akindele loathed the idea of fronting for anybody. He felt it was very belittling for anybody to be a front.

Mr. Odulate had studied Physics in a University in England. He had a very good job but opted to reinvent his father’s business in producing Alabukun powder. At some point, Mr. Odulate was writing a textbook on Physics in England whilst also involved in the business of producing Alabukun in Nigeria.

I met Mr Odulate through his son, Koye, who was my contemporary and friend at Cambridge University. Koye used to pick me up from Cambridge to London and we (i.e. Mr. Odulate, Koye and I) would spend an entire evening till the early hours of the morning discussing Greek Philosophy and sometimes business strategy. These interactions with Mr. Odulate were very unique to me. How could a philosopher be a very successful businessman? I remain grateful to Mr. Odulate for opening my eyes to see that scholarship and business are not irreconcilable. May his entrepreneurial spirit continue to rest in peace.

I met Chief Bode Akindele through a banker who had supported most of his industrial projects in Nigeria. Chief Akindele’s primary legal adviser in Nigeria had just passed away and he had so many legal issues that he wanted resolved. The banker nominated me to Chief Akindele. I can still vividly recall the reaction of Chief Akindele when he saw me. He was expecting a man in his middle age and not a 30-year old boy. After the first assignment our firm carried out for Chief Akindele, he stopped seeing me as a young man and we simply got on like a house on fire.

Chief Bode Akindele had so many unique qualities and capacities that cannot be described properly in a short tribute like this. I will only highlight a few. Chief Akindele had enormous self-confidence and never felt overwhelmed by expatriates. He could not be a stooge for anybody no matter how highly placed. I saw this attitude displayed when he decided to pull out of a major construction company. Chief Akindele owned 50% of the company and was not going to kowtow to anybody. The severance was a battle which played out in Lagos, London and Switzerland. His adversaries had a barrage of lawyers from all these jurisdictions.

It also had the support of some high ranking members of Government. I was with Chief Akindele, as his lawyer, at every forum. This was very encouraging to me. On many occasions, Chief Akindele will say to me, “Wale, I can bet that you can take them all together and carry the day”. That was a great encouragement for, and confidence in, a 30-year old man! The Managing Director of the company was so browbeaten by Chief Akindele and his team that he told me at a later stage that in his entire business life, no one had totally dominated him in any sphere of business like Chief Bode Akindele.

Chief Bode Akindele loathed the idea of fronting for anybody. He felt it was very belittling for anybody to be a front. Fronting in Nigeria’s context means that you present yourself as the owner of a business while you are simply a lackey to the real owners. Chief Akindele could not understand why anybody could do such a thing when one could build or acquire the business for one’s self.

In this context I also remember another instance our firm provided legal services for Chief Bode Akindele in the severance transaction of a port inspection agency. In that transaction, the other side paraded very important names in the society. Chief Akindele had complete disdain for these men. Whenever they approached him for discussion, Chief Akindele would say to me, “Wale you know that man is a front. He is not a real man.”

Chief Akindele wanted Nigerians to aspire to any level of business in the world and not play second fiddle to any person(s). Chief Akindele’s group led the acquisition of a Swedish match manufacturing company which at a stage controlled about 60% of the global match market. What a phenomenon Chief Akindele was! He was never willing to play second fiddle. Chief Akindele led from the front.

Chief Akindele’s penchant for hard work was indescribable. On one occasion, I was with him in Switzerland for a transaction and we usually commenced our meetings at 9:00am and would only break at 7:00pm for dinner. There was no lunch. We ate cold sandwiches, biscuits, coffee and tea all day.

Chief Akindele’s partner was Dr. Alfred Hartmann who had retired as General Manager of Union Bank of Switzerland and was then sitting on about seven boards of different banks in Switzerland. Even though I was sometimes uncomfortable with eating the biscuits and sandwiches, I could not complain because my very wealthy and older clients endured this situation with ease. I had no locus standi to protest.

Apart from the very challenging work schedule, being with Chief Akindele abroad was always a pleasure. Chief Akindele’s ability to entertain was on a different level.

After the meeting on a particular day, I had suggested to them that we should take a taxi to the Dolder Grande where we were staying. It was a bitterly cold day in Zurich. The reaction of the duo shocked me. Dr. Hartmann wondered why we should waste about €5 (five euros) when we could enjoy the trek of about two miles to the hotel. I could not understand how two billionaires found it difficult to spend €5 on transport. I later learnt that Chief Akindele was extremely prudent with money and this probably explains why, in addition to his phenomenal intellect, Chief Akindele was able to accumulate so much wealth.

I was also very thrilled, if not bewildered by this ability to define relationships and place each relationship in its own compartment.

The Company Secretary of almost all the companies of Chief was his wife, Mrs. Atema Akindele. She was a very outstanding secretary. At official functions, the relationship was so strictly official that you could not imagine that they had a relationship as husband and wife.

Apart from the very challenging work schedule, being with Chief Akindele abroad was always a pleasure. Chief Akindele’s ability to entertain was on a different level. He was well known in all the exclusive restaurants in England and all other leading European Cities.

Chief Akindele and I had a falling out until around January 1994. I believe it was occasioned by poor communication and I never took it against him. I always enjoyed his company. At his daughter, Iyabo’s wedding; I sat with him and Brigadier Oluwole Rotimi (an outstanding solider, military administrator and gentleman). We bantered for most of the evening. I usually approached him at every public function to extend my regards.

When my company won the concession for the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Chief Akindele called me and was ecstatic. In addition to congratulating me, he offered to link me up with the best consultants in the development of toll roads. He also prayed that I should not encounter the typical bureaucratic resistance to any solid project in Nigeria. Evidently, Chief Akindele remained warm to me till his last days.

Nigeria has lost a great entrepreneur and a man of phenomenal courage.

Adieu Chief Bode Akindele, Para Koyi Ibadan, Oba Ibomi, Okunrin Mewa, Omo Alhaja Rabiatu. May your enterprising soul continue to soul rest in peace.

*Dr. Babalakin, SAN,  a businessman and lawyer is Chairman of Resort International Ltd.

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ASUU’s threat, the university said, was a violation of the constitution of Nigeria which guarantees freedom of movement and would be resisted.

In its reaction contained in a statement issued on Sunday by its registrar and secretary to the council, Oladejo Azeez, the university gave the assurance that protection would be provided under the laws of the country particularly in view of the threat.

His words: “Obviously, ASUU, University of Lagos Chapter has shown clearly that it is a group that does not adhere to the Constitution of Nigeria or the Trade Union law which it is a part of.

“As a responsible Council, we will not engage ASUU, University of Lagos branch on issues that are beyond its duties, powers and responsibilities under the laws of Nigeria.

“We therefore advice all law abiding Nigerians to discountenance the action of the leadership of ASUU, University of Lagos branch and go about their legitimate duties as they will be protected under the laws of the federation.”

The statement reads: “The attention of the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Dr Bolanle Olawale Babalakin , SAN has been drawn to the notice of Congress by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Lagos branch, scheduled for Wednesday , 15th of July , 2020 at the Foyer of the Council Chambers.

“I have the instruction of the Pro-chancellor and Chairman of Council to inform members of the University Community and the general public as follows:

1. It is important to note that Council had earlier issued a notice for the Council Meeting commencing on the same 15th of July 2020.
2. This Council Meeting, apart from being statutory was also requisitioned by the Vice Chancellor of the University.
3. The Vice Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe , FAS recently requisitioned the meeting to the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr Wale Babalakin on May 11, 2020 and June 26, 2020 respectively.
4. The time and topic by ASUU for their Congress clearly indicate its plan ASUU to disrupt the Council Meeting, especially since it has issued several threats to prevent the Pro Chancellor from coming to the University.
5. This action is violently against the provision of Section 41, subsection 1 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) (Fourth Alteration), which guarantees freedom of movement of Nigerians within Nigeria.
6. ASUU as a trade union under the laws of Nigeria is also expected to know that Section 4 of the Trade Union Act states that “No person shall subject any other person to any form of constraint or restriction in the course of persuasion.”
7. Obviously, ASUU, University of Lagos Chapter has shown clearly that it is a group that does not adhere to the Constitution of Nigeria or the Trade Union law which it is a part of.
8. As a responsible Council, we will not engage ASUU, University of Lagos branch on issues that are beyond its duties, powers and responsibilities under the laws of Nigeria.
9. We therefore advice all law abiding Nigerians to discountenance the action of the leadership of ASUU, University of Lagos branch and go about their legitimate duties as they will be protected under the laws of the federation.

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