Obafunwa reconciles with ASUU, students... dialogue, fees refund continue

Academic activities will resume at the Lagos State University (LASU) on Monday, May 18, following a meeting between representatives of the Lagos State government, management and unions in the university.

In the Tuesday meeting, held at the main auditorium of LASU College of Medicine Ikeja, a communiqué, jointly signed by all the involved parties, including embattled, Vice Chancellor, John Obafunwa, was issued.

“Consequently, on the observations reached, the meeting resolved that the school should be reopened for academic activities not later than Monday, 18 May, 2015 and that provision of adequate security on campus should be made by the Lagos State Government on resumption of academic activities,” the communiqué read.

“The meeting resolved that continual dialogue between the management and staff unions under the auspices of the Governing Council should hold.

"The meeting also resolved that expeditious action on the processing of school fees refund by the Lagos State Government should follow.”

A vote of no confidence passed on Obafunwa, in early March saw the closure of the institution in April, before the 2015 general elections.

The institution's workers' unions; Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU) had jointly accused Obafunwa of inappropriate promotion of some staffs, victimization of its members, withdrawal of certificates of lecturers, abuse of due process by the university’s management.

He was also accused of trying to freeze the union's account in order to cripple their activities.

They therefore demanded his removal, a request which the state government has since declined, leading to further crisis.

Following Tuesday's meeting peace may finally return to the institution.

The unions have been mandated to declare confidence in the leadership of Mr. Obafunwa as Vice Chancellor.