LASU Union leaders insist VC must go As talks end in deadlock

The meeting summoned by Governor Babatunde Fashola with union leaders of the Lagos State University (LASU) on the crisis rocking the institution

ended in a deadlock.

At the over three hours meeting, the union leaders insisted that the embattled Vice Chancellor, Prof John Obafunwa must go and resolved not to allow him into the campus. The workers want him to proceed on terminal leave.

The leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) were invited on Monday, April 15, 2015 same day its members protested and chased the VC and his management team out of the campus.

Daily Sun learnt that at the meeting, the staff unions demanded Governor Fashola appoint an acting VC but this was rejected by the state government officials who pleaded with the workers to allow Prof Obafunwa completes his tenure.

On the fate of the embattled VC, the union leaders asked the governor to mandate Prof Obafunwa to go on terminal leave while an acting VC take charge of the affairs of the 30-year-old university.

The state government representative at the meeting include the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba, Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa and Special Adviser on Education to the Governor, Otunba Fatai Olukoga and it resolved that government would reach out to the unions on Wednesday but has yet to do so at Thursday thus creating tension among the workers.

The ASUU-LASU chairman, Dr. Adekunle Idris, confirmed that the Tuesday deliberation with government officials did not yield any positive result and that the unions are expecting government call but did not state whether it would be for another meeting or its positions on issues raised at the meeting.

He revealed that the two gates (Badagry Expressway and Iba Road) remains under lock and key while workers have resort to frying Beans cake (Akara) to celebrate the exist of Prof Obafunwa.

On the way forward, Dr. Idris, said the three staff unions expect the governor and visitor to LASU to appoint an acting vice chancellor. He disclosed that despite the on-going protest lectures are going on.

His words: ‘’No development yet from Alausa. The gates remains locked until an acting VC is appointed and our arrears paid. However, normal lectures are going on as per ASUU-LASU congress resolution of March 17, 2015. All staff unions remain resolute in their demands. No agreement was reached at the meeting held between state government and the unions. Aluta contiuna, Victoria acerta’’.

The on-going workers protest forced the university management to postpone indefinitely the 20th convocation ceremony but the unions have vowed not to allow the former VC of University of Ilorin, Prof Is-haq Oloyede to deliver the convocation lecture accusing him of being the brain behind the sack of 44 UNILORIN ASUU members, declaring him persona non-grata on the campus.

Written By Gabriel Dike