President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed John Momoh, chief executive officer of Channels TV, as acting chairman of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) governing council.
Momoh, who is the president of UNILAG alumni association, has been a member of the council as a representative of the association.
His appointment is contained in a letter signed by Sonny Echono, permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, and dated August 21.
In the letter referenced FME/PS/606/C.I/III/129 and titled “Emergency Meeting of the Governing Council of University of Lagos”, Momoh was directed to “consider and, if found suitable, approve the senate nomination of the acting vice-chancellor” for the university.
“You are to preside at the meeting in the absence of the substantive pro-chancellor/chairman of council who has had to recuse himself in line with the visitor’s directive,” the letter read.
“You are to also submit a report on the decision of the council to the visitor through the Honourable Minister of Education immediately thereafter.”
Momoh’s appointment comes after the governing council headed by Wale Babalakin, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), sacked Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogindipe as the vice-chancellor of the institution on August 12 and appointed another professor in the university in an acting capacity.
Buhari had directed Ogundipe and Babalakin to step aside and allow the senate of the university to nominate an acting vice-chancellor.
On Monday, the UNILAG senate elected Folashade Ogunsola, the institution’s deputy vice-chancellor for development services, as acting Vice Chancellor.