By Gabriel Dike
The Governing Council, Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Ikorodu (formerly Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) has dismissed two current and a former union leaders over alleged sexual harassment against female students.
However, the decision is generating ripples among teaching and non-teaching staff of the university with some insinuating they were victimized for their stand on certain issues.
The dismissal of the three union leaders was the subject of discussion among LASUSTECH staff on Friday, April 11 and Monday 14th.
A senior staff told Daily Sun that the panel did not recommend the sack of the three staff but demotion. He insisted the university management influenced the decision.
Vice Chancellor of LASUSTECH, Olumuyiwa Odusanya did not response to our Correspondent calls and WhatsApp message sent to the VC’s phone to seek his reaction to allegation against the management.
LASUSTECH Public Relations Officer, Mr. Lanre Kuye, who confirmed the sack, insisted that due process was followed and debunked the insinuation that the university management influenced the decision.
The governing council led by Prof. Rasheed Ojikutu, approved their dismissal after the submission of a report by the Staff Disciplinary Committee (SDC), which investigated the allegations against the three staff.
The three dismissed staff are members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), National Association of Academic of Technologist (NAAT) and a former scribe of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).
The dismissed staff are Nurudeen Hassan, current protem Financial Secretary of ASUU, from the Department of Mass Communication, Olayinka Uthman of the Department of Arts Design, was former scribe of ASUP and current chairman of NAAT and Kareem Arigbabu, from the Department of Arts Design, he was also a former Secretary of ASUP.
Daily Sun gathered that the three academic staff were issued their sack letters through WhatsApp on Thursday, April 10th, 2025, signed by a Deputy Registrar, Isaac Adekoya and a Principal Assistant Registrar, Mrs. Adejumoke Owoade.
The sack letter is titled: “Allegation of Sexual Harassment of Female Students: Dismissal from University”, was copied the Head, Mass Communication and Art and Industrial Design.
“The governing council of LASUSTECH at its 25th regular meeting held on Wednesday 9th April, 2025, received and considered the report/findings of its Staff Disciplinary Committee on the above allegation levelled against you,” it reads.
The sack letter explained that the council during its deliberation noted and agreed that the three staff have a case to answer on the allegations of sexual harassment of female students in their departments.
The council noted that the act of sexual harassment by the University Conditions of Service, constitute serious misconduct and its impugns on the image of the university as well as endangers the free and conducive atmosphere for academic activities.
The sack letter reads: “Council after thorough deliberation on the forgoing, approved your dismissal from the university with immediate effect in accordance with Section 5.5.2 (v) of the University Senior Staff Conditions of Service.
“You are therefore to handover all the university properties in your possession to the acting Head, Mass Communication and Art and Industrial Design and vacate the university premises.
The council said based on report of victimization of complaints and threatening comments made, it would ensure protection for the affected female students and others involved in the investigation and determination of the case.
The LASUSTECH governing council further said appropriate security agencies have been notified to place the sack staff under watch.
The council chairman, Prof. Rasheed Ojikutu, also did not response to calls meant to seek his reactions.
Kuye maintained: “The normal due process was followed in their dismissal. The panel also applied the Senior Staff Conditions of Service. We have a policy on sexual harassment and both staff and students know about it. Nobody was victimized nor was the outcome influenced by anybody.’’