Nigeria calls for reinstatement of five dismissed LASU lecturers
In Lagos State, Nigeria, calls have resumed for the state authorities, including Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to unconditionally reinstate five lecturers at Lagos State University (LASU). They were dismissed seven years ago. The lecturers are former leaders of the university branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Premium Times Nigeria reports.
Dismissal of the lecturers
The five lecturers, referred to as the “LASU Five,” were dismissed on September 12, 2019, during the 122nd meeting of the university’s governing council. They are ASUU branch chairman Isaac Oyewumi, his deputy Adebowale Adeyemi-Suenu, secretary Anthony Dansu, assistant secretary Adeolu Oluwaseyi Oyekan, and treasurer Oluwakemi Aboderin-Shonibare.
They were accused of unauthorized removal and dissemination of confidential documents. According to the publication, for seven years lecturers and various professional associations have held actions in Lagos demanding their reinstatement.
The reinstatement decision was suspended
In February 2022, the LASU governing council, chaired by David Sunmoni, decided to reinstate the lecturers following a recommendation by an appeals committee. The committee, chaired by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Adenike Boyo, according to Premium Times Nigeria, cleared the lecturers of all allegations and recommended their reinstatement.
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However, 48 hours after approving the recommendation, the same council decided to suspend the lecturers’ return. As of the publication of the Premium Times Nigeria report, they had still not been reinstated.
In a statement on behalf of the dismissed lecturers, Anthony Dansu called the dismissal and the prolonged wait unjust. He said the group harbors no resentment or regret and will continue to stand for fairness, truth and justice. Dansu also expressed confidence that the matter would end positively.
In 2025, the Concerned Sons and Daughters of Ikoga-Zebbe Kingdom organization in Badagry appealed to Sanwo-Olu to intervene. The organization claimed that the state government had blocked the implementation of the LASU governing council’s decision of February 23, 2022, and demanded the unconditional reinstatement of the lecturers.
