The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State branch, has urged the governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to immediately intervene and prevent a looming crisis that may engulf the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LLASUCOM) Ikeja following the interdiction of its provost, Prof. Abiodun Adewuya, by the Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello.
The body said such intervention by the governor as the visitor to LASU is imperative and urgent.
Recall that the immediate past provost of the college, Prof. Babatunde Solagberu, was sometimes removed from office a few months into his tenure but was reinstated about two years ago by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria when he challenged the action.
In a letter sent to the governor by the NMA, a copy of which was obtained by the Nigerian Tribune, the association on the current situation in the college described the interdiction of the provost as “bad news” that needs to be addressed immediately before it degenerates to a possible “needless crisis.”
The letter dated 6th of September was co-signed by the chairman of the group, Dr. Saheed Babajide Kehinde, and the secretary, Dr. Hassan Oluwafemi Jimoh.
According to the group, the NMA Lagos State is a critical stakeholder in medical education and training in the state, being the umbrella body of all medical and dental practitioners in the state, from which most of the academic staff of LASUCOM are drawn and the membership of which is significantly buoyed by medical and dental practitioners trained by LASUCOM.
“So, we are concerned as an association that the now recurrent tendency for disciplinary procedures, including interdiction meted on the Provost of LASUCOM by a sitting VC of LASU, is getting worrisome and smirks of some lingering ego and turf war in the relationship between the university and the college leadership over time.
“Testament to the hard work and vision of the founding fathers and successive governments of Lagos State, LASUCOM has blossomed into an academic giant with global and international ranking and has produced thousands of medical and dental practitioners, many of whom are specialists, super-specialists, and senior academics today after 25 years of her establishment.
“So, the college has thrived excellently, has expanded both in scope and capacity and has become a major training hub for different categories of health workers in Lagos State and the sub-region.
“That is why we are worried that this present interdiction of the provost, who has steered the affairs of the college brilliantly in the last roughly two years with identifiable giant strides and palpable stability, is capable of derailing the progress of the college needlessly.
“This is more so because this will be the second time, in the past six years, that a Provost of the college will be interdicted.”
Continued, the group pointed out that “interdiction of provost of the college of medicine is supposed to be a rare event and not an everyday occurrence as it is fast becoming of LASUCOM.
“To us, this development is unhealthy and, in the past, has led to needless litigation and unnecessary spending and waste.
“We therefore strongly call on you as our governor to use your good offices as a Visitor to LASU to intervene in whatever the issues may be in the relationship between the Provost of LASUCOM and the LASU VC and resolve such dispute with immediate effect in the interest of the public.”
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