The Lagos State University (LASU) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is set to embark on another round of strikes, with less than a month passed since resuming after the termination of 5.5-month-long nationwide ASUU strike.
The lecturers expressed strong disappointment over a number of long-standing issues they say the school’s administration has failed to address.
These problems were discussed at the ASUU-LASU congress during the week.
The Chairman of LASU chapter of the Union, Dr. Adekunle Idris, admitted that the strike would be harmful and that all other options were being explored to avoid the strike.
He further said that the zonal and national leaders of the Union have been invited to participate in the negotiations with the school authority. The lecturers also agreed to engage top personalities in Lagos to intervene in their dispute.
Commenting on the outcome of the national strike Dr. Idris noted it was successful because LASU would get a total of N2.6billion from the N200billion revitalisation fund released by the Federal Government.
“If strike is the only language understood by those in authority, then we are left with no choice but to use it,” he said.
Some of the demands of the lecturers include restructuring of courses in LASU to follow the submissions of faculties; review of the deadline for acquisition of PhD degree and provision of suitable and befitting university environment.
Other demands are: ending the ‘No Vacancy No Promotion’ policy of the school; payment of the 17-month salary arrears; downward review of LASU school fees; regularization of appointment exercise for academic staff members on temporary appointment and recall of all academic staff on temporary appointments that were recently disengaged.
ASUU LASU also seeks the implementation of the reformed retirement law, which allows academic staff to retire at 70-year old.
Dr. Idris explained that LASU was the only state university that had not implemented the law, yet Lagos state judges benefited from a similar law passed by the Federal Government.