The Special Adviser to the Lagos State governor on Education, Fatai Olukoga, has said workers’ and students’ unions are to blame for the continued closure of the Lagos State University (LASU).
The university, which was shut on March 25 is yet to be reopened for academic activities.
Speaking at the ministerial briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, in Alausa, Ikeja, yesterday, Olukoga attributed the crisis in the institution to the insistence of unions on dictating to their employers.
He said the lecturers, students and management all need to be cautioned, saying unless they mature in their reasoning, the situation would continue.
Olukoga said: “LASU was established by law, which gave the management, the governing council powerto run the university.
“When there is a problem that they cannot resolve, that is when it is brought to the governor.
“We don’t just dabble into LASU crisis because we have a statutory governing council that is competent and capable of handling matters.
“The crisis in LASU is that you cannot dictate to your employer to sack anybody.
“When the unions said they do not want the vice chancellor, we said it was not theirprerogative to ‘sack’ the VC.
“Imagine if you run a company and your employee says you should sack the MD, is that not absurd? Can an employee command the CEO?
“They are just fond of formulating crisis. The VC’s tenure will end in October. They said they don’t want the VC and he must not run for a second term.
“The law says that at the end of his first tenure, he can apply with others, and if he satisfies the conditions , he will be reappointed.
“I think LASU’s main problem is the domineering and overbearing atttitude of the unions.
“So the delay in opening the school is the fault of the unions. When they mature in their thinking and reasoning, then the school will be reopened.”
On the PhD controversy, the Special Adviser said 17 of the 19 affected candidates have been screened and cleared.
He said one of the two remaining candidates refused to show up for screening.
Olukoga said: “ As I speak to you, 17 have been cleared, one has refused to come for clearance, saying his certificate is with a lawyer.
The Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, emphasised the success of improved qualitative education in the state.
She reeled out statistics to support the improved performance of secondary school students in the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
“In 2013, the state had 41 per cent; in 2014 45 per cent. The result for 2015 is pending because the exam is still ongoing.”
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