Kofoworola Belo-Osagie
SOME members of staff of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), mostly non-academic workers, have urged the newly-appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Theophilus Omololu Soyombo not to let the office corrupt him.
The workers, mostly members of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), as well as some of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), began gathering at the University Senate before 9 am on Wednesday to await Soyombo’s arrival. Since his appointment as Acting VC Wednesday last week, Soyombo had not used the Vice Chancellor’s office on the 11th floor of the Senate Building. Wednesday was his first day of working in the building, which houses the main administrative offices of the university and the Senate Chambers.
After singing songs to welcome him at the foyer of the Senate Building and listening to his plans for the university, the workers urged him not to joke with their welfare.
They also prayed he look into the non-payment of salaries to members of the Legion, a group of retired soldiers who support the institution’s security unit in providing security; and the exclusion of the names of workers of the International School University of Lagos and the Staff School in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
Ganiyu Adesina Adelabu, the immediate past Chairman NASU-UNILAG, urged Soyombo not to change because of the office but remain who they know him to be.
He said: “On behalf of the non-academic, NASU, SSANU and NAAT, we welcome you and we pray that God will guide you and give you all that you need to pilot the affairs of the university at this point.
“I want to appreciate you; you started by saying our welfare will be very paramount. The welfare of members of staff, we are not going to joke with it. That is the only way that we will know that the management recognises us. That is the only way the members of staff will know that management appreciates our contribution to the development of the entire system.
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“The non-academic staff, none of us can contest for the post of the vice-chancellor. But anybody that jeopardises or try to underrate our straight, will go along (sic) with it. I know you from years back, and I know what you can do. But don’t let that office corrupt you. We want you to continue in the good name that we know you for. We thank you and welcome you again.”
Soyombo said: “I appreciate the last point that you made. Indeed, we should not allow our positions to corrupt us. I can just make a promise to you, but my promise to you is not based on an empty standing. I have been working at the University of Lagos for the past 39 years. I have been in the University of Lagos for perhaps the last 46, 47 years. So for me, the University of Lagos occupies a special position in my heart. I have spent the better part of my life at the University of Lagos. By the grace of God, I have had the opportunity of serving in various capacities, high positions in the University of Lagos.
“Life is not about money but the contribution that one can make and legacy that one can leave behind. I served in academic planning, I served as the managing director of UNILAG Consult, I served as the dean of the faculty of social sciences, and at all times my concern is always general welfare. If we have limited resources, let us distribute and let everyone have something. It will not be much but all of us will get little out of it.”
Soyombo promised to look into the backlog of salaries owed Legion members as well as the IPPIS issue affecting workers of the primary and secondary schools run by the university.
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