The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Lagos Zone, over the weekend in Lagos, called on the management of the Lagos State University (LASU) to recall the five officers of the University whose reinstatement was approved by the Governing Council of the institution since 2022.

Among the union leaders reinstated include, ASUU-LASU chairman, Dr. Akinloye Isaac Oyewumi, Vice chairman, Dr. Adebowale Adeyemi-Suenu, Secretary, Dr. Anthony Dansu, Assistant Secretary, Dr. Adeolu Oluwaseyi Oyekan and Treasurer, Dr. Oluwakemi Aboderin-Shonibare.

The five ASUU-LASU leaders were sacked by the Prof. Adebayo Ninalowo-led governing council under the ViceChancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun on September 7th, 2017 and September 12th, 2019

ASUU Lagos Zone Coordinator, Comrade Adelaja Odukoya made the call during a press briefing attended by member institutions from the zone held at the ASUU- University ofLagos (UNILAG) secretariat.

ASUU Lagos Zone condemned what it described as administrative lawlessness of the management of the institution after the Governing Council pronounced the 5 sacked officers reinstated immediately, lamenting they “Are yet to be recalled to their duties more than five years after the unjust dismissals, and two years after the Council took the lawful and just decision to recall them unconditionally’.

“It is most unfortunate that the office of the Visitor and Governor of the State is responsible for the illegality obstructing and stalling the implementation of the decision of the Governing Council in respect of the cases, in deference to reactionary elements within and outside the university.

The union recalled, “The erstwhile Vice Chancellor of the University, Olanrewaju Fagbohun, whose tenure in office was a major catalyst for the institution of a visitation panel to the University was recently illegally absorbed into the University.

“This was done although the State Government has refused to issue a White Paper, more than two years after the Visitation Panel submitted its report. The University Administration and State Government operate under a doctrine that employs victimization and illegalities as weapons of control, and the maintenance of a semblance of peace.

The union called on the Visitor to the University, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu and the University authorities under Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello to put an end to the victimisation of the affected officers by reinstating them without delay for genuine industrial peace and harmony in LASU.

“… Be truthful to justice by implementing the decision of the Governing Council on the dismissal of the five ASUU-LASU officials immediately. We also call on the Visitor to release the White Paper on the 2021 Visitation to the University immediately,” ASUU Lagos Zone

In the same vein, the ASUU-Lagod Zone also expressed opposition to moves by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to provide support for King’s College, London to establish inthe country.

The union described the planned partnership as an abuse or violation of TETFund by the government, saying that there are areas in the education sector where the agency can strengthen its interventions to the benefit of Nigerian universities.

Comrade Odukoya added, “TETFUND is a product of ASUU struggles for the betterment of tertiary education in Nigeria. Our Union will not relent in ensuring that it lives up to that core responsibility.”

Other areas of grievances addressed by the union are withheld salaries, unpaid arrears of Earned Academic Allowance, Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, Public Universities and the Treasury Single Account (TSA), proliferation of universities, and revitalisation of universities.(Daily Independent)