Lagos state governor,Chief Babatunde Fashola and the Nigerian University Commission have been urged to intervene in the ongoing impasse bedeviling Lagos state University in the interest of peace.
The coordinator, Academic Staff Union of Nigerian
Universities, Owerri Zone, Professor Ike Odumegwu made the appeal at a news
conference in Awka, noted that the interest of the suffering students, parents
and guardians should be considered.
They charged the
governor to call the university governing council and the Vice Chancellor to
order and revert forthwith the increase in the school fee that skyrocketed by 400 per cent against what it used to be..
Considering the alleged sack of the school ASUU Chairperson,
Dr. Idris Adekunle and attempt to withdraw his PhD Certificate as a result of
the ongoing crisis between the union and the VC, the governor is advised to wade into the matter and proffer a lasting solution.
He said ‘’ The administration has perfected plans to
withdraw the PhD certificate of Dr.
Idris Adekunle, ASUU LASU Chairperson, on the laughable excuse that there was
an error in the description of the area of speculation or even more worrisome that
the programme specified on the certificate ( awarded over five years ago) iis
not being offered by LASU’’
''It is important to state that this case of victimization of
the ASUU , LASU chairperson is one of many instances of what has become the
culture of arbitrariness, impunity, flagrant disregard for relevant laws and
rules, and a complete departure from the decorum and decency that should
characterize a citadel of learning ‘’ he said.
They described the Vice Chancellor, Professor John Oladapo
Obafnwa fragrant abuse of due process and attitude of impunity which plunged
the institution into crisis and chaos since inception of its administration as
questionable, but called on all relevant authorities to impress it on the
university administration to retrace the dangerous trend of arbitrariness and impunity
to return the university to the path of its mission.
‘’The current Vice Chancellor of Lagos state University, Professor
John Oladapo Obafunwa, appears to be everything but what one should expect form
one person ins such an elevated position. Since his administration of office,
the University has not made any significant, neither in academic nor I community
service. Indeed LASU under the administration has become a bye-word for crisis,
abuse of due process and impunity.’’
The need to make this LASU, matter affair arises from the
fact that this culture of impunity and arbitrariness seems to be spreading
among the universities in the country. This is a worrisome development that every
stakeholder in the university system must begin eary to combat before it overrun
and cripple the Nigerian University system.’’ He warned.
The document made available to journalists was signed by the
Zonal coordinator, ASUU Oweeri Zone, Professor Ike Odumeguw, Chairperson ASUU
Anambra state University, Comrade Emeka Nwabunnia, Chairperson ASUU Imo State
University, Dr, Chidi Nwadiaro, Chairperson ASUU Micheal Okpara Univerity of
Agriculture, Umudike, Dr. Uzo Onyebinama
and host chairperson of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Dr. Dennis
Aribodo respectively.
