By Gabriel Dike
The sanction imposed on the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has consumed its first casualty.
The Abubakar Momoh Lecture Series billed for Thursday, September 4th, 2024 at the Gbajabimilia Conference Centre Science organized by the Department of Political Science was hurriedly postponed indefinitely by the university.
The lecture titled: “Restructuring Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects” was to be delivered by former ASUU president and former Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega in honour of late Prof. Abubakar Momoh, a former ASUU Treasurer but the event did not hold.
Daily Sun gathered that LASU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello was listed as the chief host, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Olufemi Lawal as the host and acting Head of Political Science, Dr. Abdul-Wasi Moshood was also listed in the programme as host.
It was further gathered that the leadership of ASUU reached out to the guest speaker and informed him about the sanction by imposed on LASU by the National Executive Council (NEC).
A national officer of ASUU told Daily Sun that based on the information, the guest speaker declined the invitation for the lecture series. Following the development, LASU management hurriedly postponed the lecture series.
The source said:”This is the way the union operates. Any university sanctioned by NEC will be ostracized. They will have no dealings with other universities.”
The union at the NEC meeting held at University of Ibadan (UI) reiterated the sanctions imposed on LASU and reaffirmed the declaration of a former vice chancellor as an enemy of the union.
Among the sanctions imposed on LASU include no sabbatical leave for any academic staff, ban on visitation to other institutions, part-time lectureship, external examinations, external assessments, conferences, workshops; research collaborations/visits to and from LASU should stopped forthwith.
The NEC president expressed disappointment with the refusal of the Lagos State Government to release the White Paper on the Visitation Panel to LASU more than two years after the exercise was conducted.
The union called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to redeem his pledge to do the right thing at LASU and ensure the recall of the unjust sack of five union leaders.