The Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) has demanded the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of five former leaders of the union at the Lagos State University(LASU) Ojo, who were sacked by the management of the university between 2017 and 2019.
The union made the call on Tuesday during a peaceful rally staged within LASU campus, calling on the governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is the visitor to LASU to reinstate their sacked members, who were lecturers in the university.
Recall that the management of LASU under the administration of the immediate past vice- chancellor of the university, Prof Olanrewaju Fagbohun, terminated the appointment of the five leaders of the union for various alleged offences.
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The sacked lecturers and union leaders include Dr Isaac Oyewumi (Chairman), Dr Adebowale Adeyemi-Suenu (Vice Chairman); Dr Tony Dansu (Secretary); Dr Adeolu Oyekan (Assistant Secretary), and Dr Oluwakemi Aboderin-Shonibare (Treasurer).
Recall that since their sacked, the leadership of ASUU at both national and Lagos zone levels has strongly opposed the action that it was injustice and demanding their immediate reinstatement.
On the matter, the union under Lagos zone comprising eight universities which include University of Lagos( NILAG), Akoka; Federal University of Agriculture(FUNAAB); Tai Solarin University of Education(TASUED); Ogun State University(OOU) Ago- Iwoye and so forth staged a rally at LASU on Tuesday.
They moved around the campus with placards bearing various inscriptions that conveyed reasons for the rally, singing solidarity songs.
Some of the placards reads, ASUU leaders deserve justice,”; “Justice for our ASUU- LASU leaders,” “Release White Paper on LASU Visitation Panel,” “Recall sacked ASUU- LASU Five.”
Addressing journalists shortly after the congress held by the union, the Lagos Zone coordinator, Prof Adelaja Odukoya, who was represented by the chairman of ASUU, Unilag branch, Prof Kayode Adebayo, reaffirmed that governor Sanwo-Olu, should without further delay recall all the sacked lecturers.
He said they (the lecturers) were unjustifiably sacked and the governor should therefore correct the “act of injustice.”
Prof Odukoya further urged the governor to release the White Paper on the Visitation Panel constituted over two years ago and already submitted its findings to the governor as the visitor to the university.
He noted that the findings of the panel concerning the sacked lecturers was favourable to the sacked teachers and the governor should act on it without further delay.
He pointed out that the sacked five have families and dependants to take care of and they should not be made “to suffer for the offences they did not comit.”
Reacting to the matter, the vice-chancellor of the university, Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, who was representes by the deputy vice chancellor in charge of academics, Prof. Olufunsho Omobitan, told the protesting lecturers that governor Sanwo- Olu has already instructed the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, to stay on the matter.
He assured them that the matter would be resolved soonest.