Community pleads with govt to reinstate sacked LASU lecturers

The residents of Ikoga-Zebbe Kingdom in the Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State have appealed to Governor Sanwo-Olu to reinstate five lecturers from the Lagos State University who were sacked by the varsity management in 2019.

Our correspondents learnt that the lecturers, who were members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Lagos State chapter, were dismissed in September 2019 over allegations of unauthorised removal, retention, dissemination, or publication of official confidential documents.

The dismissed lecturers include Isaac Oyewumi, the union’s chairman; Adebowale Adeyemi-Suenu, vice chairman; Dr. Tony Dansu, secretary; Adeolu Oluwaseyi Oyekan, assistant secretary; and Oluwakemi Aboderin-Shonibare, treasurer.

Members of the community hosting the university had organised a protest demanding the reinstatement of the lecturers in May 2024.

A communiqué issued after a subsequent protest, obtained by PUNCH Metro on Sunday, revealed that residents called for the “unconditional reinstatement” of the affected lecturers and requested that all accrued financial entitlements and benefits be paid to them.

The communiqué partly read, “Sanwo-Olu on the above subject matter. We appeal that Mr Governor should graciously lift the embargo his government placed on the implementation of the decision of the Lagos State University Governing Council on February 23, 2022, to the effect that our illustrious son, Dr. Tony Dansu, and four other ASUU-LASU officials who were wrongfully and illegally dismissed from the services.”

Despite letters and pleas for the lecturers’ reinstatement, the communiqué noted that the residents lamented, “As of the time of this press release, we have yet to see any positive results! Therefore, we must once again appeal for justice through the public via the press on this same issue.”

When contacted for comment on the community’s demands on Monday, the varsity spokesperson, Oluwayemisi Thomas-Onashile, stated that the university lacked the authority to reinstate the dismissed lecturers.

“I don’t think there has been a time the school asked them to return to work. What the community is asking for is not even within the purview of the school,” Thomas-Onashile stated.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, did not answer his mobile phone or respond to our correspondent’s text message as of the time this report was filed.