The Academic Staff Union of Universities is holding a rally today, Tuesday, to protest the dismissal of five lecturers from Lagos State University, Ojo.
The rally, organized by the ASUU Owerri Zone, started at 10 am.
In a statement, ASUU Owerri Zone described the dismissal of the lecturers as illegal and expressed concern over the growing victimization of academic staff in Nigerian universities.
The statement reads: “Fellow Nigerian and compatriots, we are disheartened by the deliberate reluctance of the respective university administration governing councils and visitors of the stated universities to halt the spiraling victimisation of academic staff for all standing for truth.”
The union also highlighted other institutions where its members are facing victimization, including Kogi State University, Ebonyi State University, Ambrose Ali University Ekpoma in Edo State, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University in Anambra State, and the Federal University of Technology Owerri in Imo State.
ASUU’s statement further explained, “The victimisation suffered by our members ranges from dismissal from service, suspension from duty and statutory meetings, denial of promotion, deliberate seizure of salaries, non-payment of promotion arrears, non-responsibility by seeking the truth, finding the truth, teaching the truth and defending the truth.”
The union specifically raised concerns about the judgment delivered against its members at Kogi State University, Anyigba, saying, “ASUU is particularly disturbed at the seeming travesty of justice in the judgment delivered against our members at the Kogi State University, Anyigba, after seven years of waiting!”
The five LASU lecturers who were dismissed in 2019 include Isaac Oyewumi, the union’s chairman; Adebowale Adeyemi-Suenu, vice chairman; Dr. Tony Dansu, secretary; Adeolu Oluwaseyi Oyekan, assistant secretary; and Oluwakemi Aboderin-Shonibare, treasurer. The university claimed that the lecturers were dismissed due to accusations of unauthorized removal, retention, distribution, or publication of official confidential documents.
However, the affected lecturers have denied these allegations in previous reports, maintaining that they were unjustly targeted for standing up for what they believe is right.
ASUU’s rally today aims to draw attention to these issues and urge the university administrations and governing bodies to stop the victimization of academic staff across the country.
