The Academic Staff Union of Universities has reaffirmed its suspension of academic engagements with Lagos State University Ojo, as announced after a National Executive Council meeting held at the University of Ibadan on August 17-18.
The council decided that, until LASU reinstates five members “wrongfully” dismissed, ASUU members should cease involvement in “sabbatical leave, visitation, part-time lectureship, external examinations, external assessments, conferences, workshops, research collaborations/visitations, etc. to and from LASU.”
ASUU pledged continued support for the affected lecturers and instructed its branch at LASU to provide the National Secretariat with a detailed and updated report on the matter.
On August 21, ASUU National President Emmanuel Osodeke publicly criticized Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the delay in releasing the White Paper on the LASU visitation panel’s findings.
He expressed disappointment with the government’s “conspiracy of silence” and urged the governor to fulfill his promise by reinstating the dismissed lecturers.
“The seeming conspiracy of silence on this matter is unbecoming of a democratically elected government,” ASUU said in the statement signed by Mr Osodeke.
“We therefore call on the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to redeem his pledge to do the right thing at LASU and ensure the recall of our unjustly sacked colleagues,” he added.
The lecturers in question, who were ASUU officials, are Isaac Akinloye Oyewumi, ASUU chairperson; Adebowale Adeyemi-Suenu, Vice Chairman; Anthony Dansu, Secretarr; Adeolu Oluwaseyi Oyekan, Assistant Secretary; and Oluwakemi Adebisi Aboderin-Shonibare, Treasurer.
They were terminated for allegedly unauthorized handling and publication of confidential documents.
In February 2022, the governing council of LASU, led by David Sunmoni, reinstated the lecturers following an Appeal Committee’s recommendation. However, the council later reversed this decision within 48 hours, and the lecturers remain un-reinstated, despite ongoing protests from Dansu’s community in Ikoga-Zebbe and a press statement from them.
ASUU also criticized university Visitors for not addressing the persistent management crises and victimization issues in various public universities, including Kogi State University, Ebonyi State University, Lagos State University, Ambrose Alli University, Federal University of Technology Owerri, and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University.
The union highlighted issues such as illegal terminations, withheld salaries, and denied promotions.
Moreover, ASUU condemned the inadequate funding of universities, noting that national budget allocation to education remains under 10 percent, well below the 15-20 percent recommended by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities for developing nations.
This funding shortfall has led to a decline in basic university services like uninterrupted power supply, clean water, and maintenance.
ASUU resolved to give the government a 21-day ultimatum to address these issues. The union plans to reconvene after this period to decide on further actions.
