19th March, 2015
Kazeem Ugbodaga
The crisis engulfing Lagos State University, LASU, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, seems to know no end as lecturers and other staff of the institution have vowed that the Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Obafunwa must leave the school before peace can reign.
On Monday, staff of the school protested and pelted Obafunwa with sachet water and was not allowed into the school premises.
A meeting between the various unions in the institution with the Lagos State Government on Tuesday was deadlocked as both parties disagreed, insisting that the Vice Chancellor must go.
Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities,, ASUU, LASU Chapter, Dr. Adekunle Idris, said the various unions had agreed to fight on and ensure that the VC is removed from the school and an acting VC installed.
He lamented that LASU had not known development since Obafunwa took over the helm of affairs.
According to him, the gates of the school would remain closed until an Acting Vice Chancellor is installed and their arrears paid, adding that the current VC is not capable of running the affairs of the institution.
Idris added that lectures would still be going on despite the fact that the gates of the schools had been shut as agreed at the last ASUU-LASU Congress.
“There is no development in LASU, the gates remain locked until an Acting VC is appointed and our arrears paid. However, normal lectures are ongoing as per ASUU-LASU Congress resolution of 17th March.
“All staff unions remain resolute in their demands. No agreement was reached at the meeting held on Tuesday between government and the unions,” Idris stated.
On Monday, confusion reigned in LASU as protesting workers prevented the VC from entering the school and pelted him with sachet water.
The protesters comprised members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, and the Non Academic Staff of Universities, NASU. The action disrupted activities in the school.
The unions accused Obafunwa and other officers of working together to frustrate the workers’ interests.
As a result of the crisis in the school, the LASU authorities postponed the school’s Convocation fixed for Thursday to avert further protest and crisis.