The call for justice reverberates with increasing intensity as the plight of Dr. Tony Dansu and four other officials of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the Lagos State University (LASU) remains tragically unresolved. Their story is a distressing testament to the systemic injustices that continue to plague our educational institutions.
Let us delve into the chronology of events leading up to this lamentable state of affairs:
Dismissals by Previous Governing Council: Between September 2017 and September 2019, Dr. Isaac Akinloye Oyewumi, Dr. Adebowale Adeyemi-Suenu, Dr. Anthony Dansu, Dr. Adeolu Oluwaseyi Oyekan, and Dr. Oluwakemi Adebisi Aboderin-Shonibare were unjustly dismissed by the previous LASU Governing Council. These dismissals were purportedly based on frivolous charges concocted by the administration of Professor Lanre Fagbohun, casting a dark shadow over the principles of fairness and due process.
Ongoing Appeals: Despite the passage of time, the cases of dismissal have languished in the Appeal Court since 2017 and 2019, leaving the affected individuals in a state of prolonged uncertainty and limbo.
Reversal and Reinstatement: In a glimmer of hope for justice, the new University Administration, under the leadership of Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, sought to rectify this grave injustice in 2021. Efforts towards an out-of-court settlement bore fruit when the LASU Governing Council, chaired by Sir David Sunmoni, took the commendable step of reversing the dismissals and reinstating the five officers on February 23, 2023. This decision was informed by the findings of two committees that unequivocally exonerated the union leaders of any wrongdoing.
Government Intervention: However, the wheels of justice were abruptly halted when the Lagos State Government intervened less than 24 hours after the Council’s resolution. The government instructed the university Governing Council to suspend the implementation of its decision pending the release of the government’s white paper the 2021 LASU visitation panel. Regrettably, this awaited white paper has remained elusive for over two years, prolonging the agony of those affected by this injustice.
Selective Treatment: What is particularly egregious is the selective treatment afforded to certain individuals amidst this ordeal. Despite unresolved issues pending the release of the white paper, individuals like Prof. Lanre Eagbohun, an Awori man from Akesan, Mr. Babatunde Said Olayinka an Ijebu man from Epe, and Mr. Olayinka Amuni another Ijebu man from Epe have been reinstated or retained without hesitation or delay.
Delayed Resolution: The protracted and unjustifiable delay in resolving the plight of the union leaders is a stark indictment of the ego and vested interests that often dictate outcomes in Nigerian institutions. This prolonged injustice, spanning five to seven years, demands urgent redress and corrective action.
In light of these harrowing events, the Lagos State Government and LASU authorities are implored upon to heed the growing chorus of voices demanding an end to this flagrant injustice. Justice delayed is justice denied, and it is incumbent upon all of us to stand in solidarity with those whose rights have been trampled upon and advocate tirelessly for the restoration of fairness, integrity, and accountability within our academic institutions.