Worried by the lingering crisis, some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called on the Governor of Lagos state, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to set up a Visitation panel to Lagos State University to find a lasting solution to the problems in the institution.
This, according to the group, was necessary to wade into alleged intimidation and persecution of members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos State University (LASU) chapter, by the institution’s management under Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, the Vice Chancellor
The CSOs, during media briefing in Lagos on Wednesday, said they felt concerned over lingering crisis at the University which they said was caused by the disagreement between the management and the institution’s ASUU branch, which had been having short and long time consequences on academic activities there.
The groups included Workbond International Network (WIN), United Action for Democracy (UAD), Alliance of Nigerian Students Against Neo-Liberal Attacks (ANSA) and Yoruba Revolutionary Movement (YOREM).
Mr. Saint Olawale Omataye, WIN Executive Director, and Mr. Kunle Wizeman Ajayi, UAD General-Secretary, who spoke on behalf of all the groups, maintained that an immediate setting up of the visitation panel remained the only panacea for lasting peace in LASU, considering the fact that the crisis had been lingering for too long.
They said: “We call on Mr. Governor that time is indeed of essence as the University must not be allowed to continue to wallow in crisis regardless of the facade of peace and orderliness presented by the management.
“Allowing the prevailing situation in LASU to persist is tantamount to stifling academic excellence and turning the University community into an enclave where fear and intimidation will become the order of the day; and in utter emasculation of the cherished culture of academic freedom.”
Meanwhile, the groups told Professor Fagbohun and the University Council that they should in the interim take some measures, which they said were imperative towards addressing the crisis in LASU.
These, according to them, included the restoration and respect for due process in LASU, review of questionable disciplinary procedures and recall of victimised lecturers, and end to incessant and unwarranted queries and intimidation of ASUU members.
The groups also called for the payment of outstanding allowances due to academic staff, full and immediate restoration of status of check-off authorisation to LASU-ASUU and the setting up visitation panel by Governor Sanwo-Olu.
They stated: “It has become expedient to call on the visitor to LASU, His Excellency; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State to accord prompt resolution of the lingering crisis in LASU the utmost and urgent attention the situation deserves.
“Indeed, at no time in the history of existence of LASU, has the need for a visitation panel becomes most imperative than now. Since the last visitation panel to LASU was constituted in 2009, it is only ideal that Mr. Governor set up a visitation panel whose mandate amongst others would include examining the crisis under the leadership of Professor Fagbohun.
“We are convinced that only a visitation panel recognised by the statute of the university can fully unravel the crisis and proffer enduring solutions. Nevertheless, we wish to implore Mr. Governor to constitute a panel comprising competent and credible individuals whose pedigree would be devoid of politics and compromise.”
