The Concerned Sons and Daughters of Ikoga-Zebbe, Badagry, Lagos State, have written to Babatunde Ogala, chairperson of the Governing Council of the Lagos State University (LASU), urging him to address the unfair treatment of Anthony Dansu and four other lecturers who were “wrongfully dismissed” from the university in 2019.
The group, in a statement on Wednesday, alleged that the dismissals were based on frivolous charges and that the officials were vindicated by the reports of two committees, leading to their reinstatement by the previous Governing Council in February 2022. However, the implementation of the decision has been put on hold by the Lagos State Government.
The statement was jointly signed by James Avoseh, Mayowa Adejobi, Gabriel Tinka, Ademola Bokoh, Francis Avoseh, and Medemaku Noah.
The dismissed lecturers were officials of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), LASU chapter. They are Isaac Akinloye Oyewumi (ASUU chairperson); Adebowale Adeyemi-Suenu (vice chairperson); Anthony Dansu (secretary); Adeolu Oluwaseyi Oyekan (assistant secretary); and Oluwakemi Aboderin-Shonibare (treasurer).
For more than three years, the town group has engaged in a series of activities, including peaceful rallies, the issuance of press statements, and writing letters to the state’s governor, calling for the reinstatement of the dismissed officials.
The dismissal
The lecturers were dismissed during the university governing council’s 122nd meeting held on 12 September 2019. They were accused of unauthorised removal, retention and dissemination or publication of official confidential documents and subsequently sacked.
In February 2022, the David Sunmoni-led governing council of the university reinstated the lecturers after an Appeal Committee headed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Adenike Boyo, cleared the lecturers of all offences and recommended their reinstatement.
But in a strange move, 48 hours after the governing council approved its appeal committee’s recommendation, the same governing council ruled to put the recall of the lecturers on hold.
Demands
The group is calling for the unconditional reinstatement of the five officials, payment of their accrued financial entitlements and benefits, and promotions without loss of seniority and entitlements.
They argue that the officials are being unfairly treated and that their dismissal is a disservice to the community and Lagos State.
The group highlighted the perceived marginalisation of the Ikoga-Zebbe community and the need for fair treatment.
Appeal
According to the group, the decision to reinstate the dismissed staff was again upheld in July, but their recommendations have not been implemented.
“We were elated when we received information that the immediate past Governing Council, at its meeting of July 3rd, 2025, upheld the recommendations of its appeal committee, headed by your good self, that the requests above be formalised, alongside the offer by the affected ASUU-LASU officials to voluntarily withdraw their services from the university immediately after implementation,” the statement said.
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“We understand the decision to mean a clear directive to the university administration to finalise the discussions with them with a view to making a binding agreement between the two parties through its submission as a consent judgment to the industrial court.
“Sadly, about five months after this decision, we have yet to see any positive results!”
The group, once again, urged the chairperson to use his position to resolve the issue and bring justice to the affected officials.
Contacted LASU spokesperson, Thomas Onashile, did not respond to either telephone calls or a WhatsApp message seeking her reaction.
