By: Mandy Park
A coalition of pro-labour civil society organisations under the aegis of the Joint Action Front (JAF) has called on Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the management of Lagos State University (LASU) to immediately reinstate five dismissed academic staff members, describing their continued removal as a “grave injustice” and a violation of labour rights.
In a statement issued on Friday to mark International Workers’ Day, the group decried what it termed the prolonged victimisation of the lecturers, popularly known as the “ASUU-LASU 5,” nearly a decade after their dismissal.
The affected academics were identified as Dr. Isaac Akinloye Oyewumi, Dr. Adebowale Adeyemi-Suenu, Dr. Tony Dansu, Dr. Adeolu Oyekan, and Dr. Oluwakemi Aboderin-Shonibare, all of whom held leadership positions in the university’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) prior to their sack.
JAF alleged that the lecturers were unjustly dismissed for their union activities, stressing that the delay in their reinstatement—despite what it described as a 2022 decision by the university’s Governing Council supporting their recall—reflects a disregard for justice, academic freedom, and workers’ rights.
“The continued victimisation of these union leaders represents a troubling misuse of administrative power to silence dissenting voices,” the statement read.
The organisation further argued that the case has had a chilling effect on unionism within LASU, weakening what it described as a once vibrant culture of engagement among academic staff.
According to JAF, fear of reprisals has discouraged lecturers from active participation in union activities, thereby undermining institutional accountability and professional advocacy.
Beyond the university, the group warned that the situation sends a negative signal to other tertiary institutions and the broader public service in Lagos State, suggesting that assertive unionism could attract punitive consequences.
JAF also linked the shrinking democratic space within the university to the decline in student activism, noting that student unions traditionally draw strength from academic unions.
It cited the 2021 killing of student activist Yusuf Nurudeen Omomeewa as a tragic development that has further deepened concerns about safety and civic engagement within the institution.
While describing the circumstances surrounding the student’s death as unresolved, the group maintained that the broader climate of hostility toward activism cannot be ignored.
The coalition urged Governor Sanwo-Olu, as Visitor to the university, to ensure the full implementation of the Governing Council’s reported 2022 decision by removing any obstacles to the lecturers’ reinstatement.
It called for the immediate recall of the affected academics, alongside the restoration of their salaries, benefits, and career progression.
JAF also criticised the silence of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), urging both labour centres to demonstrate solidarity by taking a firm stand on the issue.
“The struggle for justice for the ASUU-LASU 5 is a collective responsibility. An injury to one is an injury to all,” the statement added.
The group called on workers, activists, civil society organisations, and the general public to support the demand for the lecturers’ reinstatement, describing it as critical to restoring confidence in unionism and upholding democratic principles within the state’s higher education system.
