In a recent development, a group known as the Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights (CDWR) has called on the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to restore the positions of five leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), who were reportedly dismissed by the Lagos State University (LASU) in 2017.
The CDWR has labeled the sack of these union leaders as unjust and is demanding their immediate reinstatement. According to reports, Governor Sanwo-Olu had formed a panel to investigate the matter between the lecturers and the former management of the institution.
It has been disclosed that the panel, which concluded its findings and recommendations in 2022, advised the governor to reinstate the lecturers. However, there has been no action taken to recall the sacked ASUU leaders.
The CDWR Chairperson, Rufus Olusesan, and the Publicity Secretary, Chinedu Bosah, issued a statement on Tuesday, accusing the governor of acting arbitrarily. They expressed shock at the refusal of the university’s Governing Council to implement the recommendations of the panel since 2022.
The group highlighted that the appeal committee led by Prof Dapo Asaju was formed by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, and submitted its report on February 23, 2022. This committee was established to review the alleged fabricated allegations against the sacked lecturers.
In an unexpected turn of events, the same governing council, after just 48 hours, reconvened to postpone the implementation of its previous decision, seemingly due to pressure from the Lagos State government.
The CDWR strongly criticized the refusal to reinstate the sacked workers, labeling it as executive lawlessness by the Sanwo-Olu administration. They also noted that this action goes against the promise made by the Governor when he set up a 10-man visitation panel in November 2021.
In response to the situation, the CDWR demanded the immediate recall of the dismissed union leaders, in accordance with the recommendations made by the appeal committee.
