•SSANU demands probe of exercise

By Gabriel Dike

The management of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, is facing a crisis of integrity and transparency in a recent promotion exam conducted for certain categories of staff.

Some staff are contesting the results of a promotional exam conducted by LASU management and have queried the outcome, which they alleged was manipulated in favour of their anointed staff.

Over 30 Deputy Registrars were mandated to sit for the promotional exam for the position of Senior Deputy Registrar and the outcome is currently generating ripples in the university.

Daily Sun learnt that some of the affected deputy registrars complained to the leaders of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) about the manipulation of the promotional exam.

The union stepped into the issue and on Monday, December 1st, 2025, an emergency congress was conveyed to deliberate on the outcome of the promotion exam.

The congress deliberated on the recent controversy promotion exam conducted by LASU management and rejected the outcome.

The SSANU congress unequivocally rejected the outcome of the recent promotion examination and asserted that the process was marred by opacity, selective favoritism, and a blatant disregard for due process.

“The pattern of results, wherein only a narrow circle of individuals, predominantly heads of key divisions working directly with principal officers, emerged successful, raises serious questions about the integrity of the process,” the resolution signed by the chairman and secretary noted.

It added: “This is not the first time SSANU-LASU has been confronted with such institutional injustice. The university has, over the years, developed a disturbing pattern of conducting promotion exercises that lack transparency, fairness, and objectivity. “Each time, the Association has risen in defense of its members, and each time, justice has eventually prevailed. We remind the university that history is replete with examples of our resilience and refusal to accept injustice in any guise.”

The union demanded for an immediate constitution of an independent review panel, inclusive of SSANU-LASU representatives, to audit the entire promotion process.

It insisted the panel must investigate the criteria used, the marking scheme, and the rationale behind the lopsided outcomes. Until this is done, adding, “the current results remain unacceptable and must be set aside.

The resolution also noted with grave concern that the current agitation is not limited to those recently considered for advancement to CONUNASS 14 and 15 under the career elongation scheme. “There remains an unresolved backlog of aggrieved members who sat for the promotion examination earlier in the year for elevation to CONUNASS 14. These members, whose cases remain unaddressed, continue to suffer in silence.

“Congress insists that any review process must holistically address both categories of affected members to ensure justice is not selective but comprehensive,” SSANU-LASU stated.

The congress reaffirmed that ubi jus, ibi remedium, “where there is a right, there must be a remedy. Our members have a right to fair and merit-based career progression.”

The union stressed that any process that undermines this right is an affront to justice and will be resisted with every legitimate tool at their disposal.

The congress mandated the SSANU-LASU executive council to immediately engage the university management on the issue, demand a halt to any further administrative action based on the disputed results, ensure that both the recent and earlier aggrieved categories of members are included in the redress process and report back to congress within seven working days with concrete outcomes.

It was further resolved that should the university fail to address these concerns within the stipulated timeframe, congress will not hesitate to activate all lawful industrial mechanisms, including but not limited to mass action, to defend the dignity and rights of its members.

The congress called on members to remain united, vigilant, and resolute, stating, “we must not allow ourselves to be divided or intimidated. An injury to one is an injury to all.”