LASU Campus
Gboyega Akinsanmi in Lagos and Damilola
Oyedele
The Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU) of the Lagos State University (LASU)
has finally called off a six-week-old strike,
which it embarked on since May 20.
This came as the Colleges of Education
Academic Staff Union (COEASU) also
suspended its nine-month-old strike in
principle, following the intervention by the
Chairmen of Governing Councils of Federal
Colleges of Education and assurances that
the outstanding issues would be resolved.
LASU’s lecturers’ decision to call off the
strike was contained in a letter to the
institution’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of
its Governing Council, Mr. Olabode Agusto,
yesterday.
Copies of the letter were sent to the
institution’s governor and visitor, Mr.
Babatunde Fashola (SAN), the Commissioner
for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye and
her establishment counterpart, Mrs. Florence
Oguntuase, among others.
The letter, which was signed by the
institution’s ASUU Chairman, Dr. Kunle Idris,
said the chapter’s congress reviewed the
strike it embarked upon on May 20 and
decided to suspend it.
After the congress deliberated on a letter the
institution’s governing council sent to it last
Friday, the lecturers said the congress agreed
to suspend the strike in the interest of all.
The letter read in part: “The congress of ASUU
LASU met on July 14, and reviewed the strike
action it embarked upon on May 20. After
exhaustive deliberation on the council’s letter
ref: LASU/PRO-CHAN/ASUU/31, dated July
11, the congress took some decisions.
“The congress suspended the strike action
but resolved that discussions on the
outstanding issues identified by members
should be continued by the executive
members.
The congress said the letters and spirit of the
resolutions reached by the university, its
appointments and promotions committee and
the governing council shall hold.
“This letter, therefore, serves to notify the
governing council and the university
administration that the academic staff of
LASU has, effective from July 14, resumed the
teaching aspect of their duties.”
Before the suspension of the strike, ASUU had
met with the management of the school on
July 2 and certain resolutions were reached.
The parties at the meeting agreed that in the
area of promotion, it is an ongoing exercise,
and any academic staff meriting promotion
shall be so promoted, following established
procedures;
The meeting noted that some of the
outstanding promotion cases had earlier been
taken and that all other outstanding cases of
promotion should be forwarded to the
University Appointments and Promotions
(Academic) Committee according to
established procedures.
Meanwhile, the suspension of COEASU’s
strike would however be upheld following
tomorrow’s meeting with the Minister of
Education, Alhaji (Ibrahim Shekaru) with
officials of the union.
The Chairman of the Committee of Council
Chairmen of the Federal COEs, Senator
Emmanuel Anosike, reading from the
resolutions reached at the end of a five hour
meeting in Abuja Tuesday noted that the
union agreed that the government had met a
reasonable number of its demands.
“The union has agreed to suspend its strike in
principle subject to the following: that there
would be no victimisation of its members and
salaries with held would be paid,” he said.
The resolutions also noted that the circular
for the migration of lower cadre staff in the
COEs would be released immediately, while a
technical committee would be set up to look
into the resolution of other matters.
THISDAY, following talks with Anosike and
the President of COEASU, Asagha Okoro, had
exclusively reported last week that the strike
would be suspended yesterday.
The meeting was convened at the instance of
the Chairmen of Governing Councils of COEs,
and the Committee of Provosts, to brainstorm
on the way forward to ensure the strike is
called off this week.
It had in attendance the officials of the
National Commission for Colleges of
Education (NCCE), COEASU and NASU
executive members.
The National Chairman of COEASU, Mr. Okoro
Asagha, while addressing the meeting, said
the union was concerned that its members
resume work with motivation.
“We should not go on strike before we get
things done. Issues such as needs
assessment, and migration of staff for which
a presidential circular already exists, should
be taken care of before any union goes on
strike,” he said.
“Once we tie all these loose ends...we will
just dot the ‘I’s and cross the ‘t’s. This is the
determinant week, I am sure we would all go
home smiling,” he said.

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