By Gabriel Dike
The management of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, has hurriedly declared Christmas break for staff and students in an attempt to make the ongoing strike by the three staff unions ineffective.
Currently, academic and administrative in LASU has been crippled due to the ongoing indefinite strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) over salary increment and non-payment of earned allowance.
In a swift reaction, ASUU Lagos Zone Coordinator, Prof. Adelaja Odukoya, said the Prof. Ibrahim Bakare and Sylvester Idowu led body is known to ASUU national, ‘’they are not part of the union.”
On Monday, the industrial action took its toll on the various campuses as academic and administrative services were disrupted.
Daily Sun gathered that attempt to drag the students into the labour crisis between the university management and the staff unions failed, hence the declaration of an early Christmas break.
Less than 48 hours after the Joint Action Committee (JAC), made up of ASUU, SSANU and NASU began an indefinite strike, the university through a circular titled: “Notice of Christmas and new year break” closed the school till next year.
The circular stated that LASU Senate has declared Christmas and new year break, starting on Monday, 9th December 2024, and to end on Sunday, 5th January 2025.
It reads: “All university activities, including lectures and socio-academic events, will resume on Monday, 6th January 2025.
“All students residing in the university’s hostels across all campuses (Ojo, LASUCOM, Epe and Badagry) are required to vacate the hostels within 48 hours, starting from 8:00 a.m. on Monday, 9th December 2024.
“The university management appreciates the support and dedication of staff and students throughout the year and wishes everyone a joyous Christmas and a prosperous new year.”
Reacting to the ongoing strike, Prof. Odukoya, emphatically stated that ASUU members in LASU are not on strike and that the national body did not approve of any industrial action.
“The group on strike in LASU has not attended any zonal or National Executive Council meeting. There is only one ASUU that has a charter. All branches operators under same charter. We don’t this group and we don’t associate with them.’’
In a related development, the ASUU-LASU branch recognized by the national body has disassociated itself from the ongoing strike in LASU.
The recognition branch is a statement signed by the immediate past Chairman, Dr. Adekunle Idris and the Financial Secretary, Hamzat Edu categorically stated that its members are not on strike but acknowledged the demands of the non-academic staff as legitimate.
In the four-page statement, titled: “The looming strike in LASU: Of solidarity and process”, said despite its unconditionally solidarity with the sister unions in the current face-off, ASUU-LASU have not officially declared an industrial action.
“The simple reason for this is that ASUU has a time-tested template for embarking on strikes. The decision to go on strike must first be taken at Congress, and then transmitted to NEC through the zone for approval.
“NEC, usually will send a visitation team to access the situation and provide feedback that will then guide the decision to approve a strike action or not. We have not activated this process, despite a litany of unresolved issues that we have with the state government.”
Among the unresolved issues it mentioned are the Governing Council’s unconditional recall of dismissed union leaders by the visitor, non- release of the report of the visitation panel, refusal to pay earned academic allowances, adding, “there are many issues affecting LASU, which the government has continued to handle with levity.”
The statement states that despite the unresolved demands, it has not yet culminated in a resolution of Congress declaring a trade dispute, in accordance with the Constitution of the union.
Idris and Edu urged the university administration and sister unions to ensure safety and security of its members on the various campuses while solution are are being explored.
The union called on the state government and university management to address the pertinent lingering issues including the demands of the non-teaching staff.
“We have been informed of plans to shut down the university on account of the strike. Hopefully, it creates a window for the authorizes to swiftly address the issues, rather than evade them,’’ ASUU-LASU stressed.