LASU workers beg Fashola for acting VC after stoning Obafunwa with pure water

Workers at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo have demanded for an acting Vice Chancellor, days after chasing out Prof. John Obafunwa out of the institution.

Following a Tuesday congress, members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU) asked Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola to appoint an acting Vice-chancellor.

This is coming only a day after protesting workers pelted the present VC Obafunwa out of the institution and blocked the two major entrances to the school, causing heavy traffic in the area.

The Monday protests led to the indefinite postponement of the institution's 20th convocation ceremony originally billed for Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th of March.

A convocation lecture, which the former VC of the University of Ilorin would have presented on Tuesday 17th also failed to hold.

Speaking with Punch, LASU chapter Chairman of ASUU, Dr. Adekunle Idris, said the workers are asking for an acting VC because they need someone to oversee the activities of this institution.

Prof. Obafunwa has had a long running battle with workers at the institution.

In early January, the Zonal Coordinator of the Lagos zone of ASUU, Dr Adesola Nassir, called on Governor Fashola, to caution the embattled Vice-Chancellor, accusing him of "instigating crisis for LASU and the government, just to cover his incompetence."

Also, in December 2014, the Coordinator of the Akure Zone of ASUU and chairperson of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) ASUU chapter, Dr Alex Odiyi, cautioned Prof. Obafunwa over what it called victimization of its members in the state owned institution.

The caution came after Obafunwa withdrew the PhD certificate of the Chairman of the LASU chapter of ASUU, Dr. Adekunle Idris, and 13 other local ASUU members.

It is uncertain what will happen next with this 'coup' at the ivory tower.