One of the Senate representatives on the Joint Council and Senate Selection Committee for the appointment of a substantive ninth Vice-Chancellor in Lagos State University, Prof. Fidelis Njonkama, has resigned.

Sunday PUNCH reported that Njonkama resigned after he could not convince the Governing Council to include postgraduate Medical Fellowship as a criterion for the appointment of a substantive VC for LASU.

It was said that last week, Njonkama asked for the inclusion of a postgraduate Medical Fellowship, alongside PhD and MD, as criteria in the advert for LASU’ VC.

The request reportedly generated a heated debate and led to a voting process.

Four members voted against Njonkama, while one person voted in his support.

The advert, which was signed by the acting Registrar, Mr Emmanuel Afanu, listed PhD and Doctor of Medicine as key requirements for professors applying for the job.

However, in a letter made available to our correspondent, Njonkama said the reason for his resignation was personal.

The letter, which was addressed to the acting VC and the governing council chairman, partly reads, “I had wished to be able to serve LASU in this very important task. Unfortunately, emergent conditions of a deeply personal nature will not allow me to give my usual best.

“I am therefore constrained to inform you of my wish to withdraw from the said Committee. I acknowledged my responsibility as a member of the Committee with regard to any and all decisions so far taken by the Committee.”

However, a source in the management said, “Let the world know that we are doing the right thing in LASU for the first time.”

It was gathered that the Senate would conduct a fresh election on Tuesday, August 10, to elect his replacement into the selection committee.