The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has imposed fresh sanctions on Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, over the institution’s failure to reinstate its “unjustly” dismissed leaders seven years after their removal.
The lecturers, sacked under controversial circumstances, have remained out of office despite a resolution by the university’s governing council ordering their reinstatement.
In a statement issued by ASUU’s Lagos zone on Tuesday, Zonal Coordinator Adelaja Odukoya announced that the union had prohibited any member from engaging with LASU in official capacities such as external examinations, conferences, or sabbatical exchanges.
The sanctions are part of a larger effort by ASUU to force the reversal of the dismissals of the affected lecturers.
Among the sacked lecturers are former ASUU-LASU Chairperson Isaac Oyewumi, Vice-Chairperson Adebowale Adeyemi-Suenu, and executive members Tony Dansu, Adeolu Oyekan, and Oluwakemi Aboderin-Shonibare.
ASUU has maintained that the dismissal of these lecturers was both “unjust and illegal.”
The union also accused Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of obstructing the reinstatement process, alleging that the governor unilaterally blocked the implementation of the governing council’s decision to recall the lecturers.
ASUU claims that Sanwo-Olu, in his capacity as the Visitor to LASU, has ignored repeated appeals to resolve the crisis, leading to the continued victimization of its members.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu has not only refused to intervene in this injustice, but he has also actively orchestrated the continued persecution of the lecturers,” ASUU said in its statement.
“Instead of supporting the resolution of this crisis, he has inexplicably stalled the process, leaving our members in needless suffering.”
According to ASUU, the fresh sanctions are a response to what it described as LASU’s betrayal of trust.
The union explained that following the appointment of Vice-Chancellor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, it relaxed earlier sanctions in good faith, hoping for an amicable settlement.
The affected lecturers even withdrew their lawsuits against the university after assurances of reinstatement.
However, despite these gestures, the process was abruptly halted after the governing council’s decision to reinstate the lecturers in February 2022.
According to ASUU, the university administration received directives from Alausa, the Lagos State Government Secretariat, to freeze the implementation of the decision.
“ASUU relaxed its sanctions, believing the new administration would follow through on the governing council’s resolution. Instead, the decision was stalled under questionable directives.
“This delay is nothing more than a tactic to obstruct justice,” the statement read.
ASUU has called on Governor Sanwo-Olu to release the White Paper of the visitation panel’s report, which has been shrouded in secrecy since its submission in September 2022.
The union argued that the public, whose tax money funded the panel, has the right to know the contents of the report and the reasons behind the refusal to reinstate the lecturers.
“Why has Governor Sanwo-Olu continued to suppress the findings of the panel? Whose interests are being protected? And how does this align with his so-called labour-friendly stance?” ASUU questioned in its statement.
The five lecturers were dismissed between 2017 and 2018 for various reasons, sparking a prolonged conflict between ASUU and LASU’s management.
After former Vice-Chancellor Olanrewaju Fagbohun’s departure, the new governing council under Olatunji-Bello initially moved to reinstate the lecturers.
However, the decision was rescinded within 24 hours, leading to renewed tensions between the university and ASUU.
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