NASU-LASU Election: “I Have No Preferred Candidate” – VC

…Clears Air On EAA, Other Welfare Packages

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, mni, has expressed her neutrality in the contest for the Chairmanship and other positions of the Non-Academic Staff Union Lagos State University (NASU – LASU) Chapter, in the forthcoming election of the Body.

Prof. Olatunji – Bello, mni, made the stance known in a meeting she held with the Executives of the Union, past Leaders and Aspirants in the forthcoming election of the Body. The meeting was held on Monday, 27th March 2023 in the Vice Chancellor’s Conference Room on the 6th floor of the Babatunde Raji Fashola Senate Building, Main Campus, Ojo, Lagos.

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The Vice Chancellor who stated that the meeting became necessary to quash rumours of her alleged endorsement of some candidates said, “My ears have become full about rumours making the rounds and security reports around the election. I wish to clearly debunk rumours of my support for any of the candidates and assure you that we have no interest in who emerges winner in the election. I have no preferred candidate. I want you all to go to the polls and test your popularity, and may the best man win…I also promise that we will work with the executives that emerge from this election. My vision is to lead LASU to become the Best University in West Africa and that can only happen when we have an environment that is peaceful and where the security of everyone is protected. As much as I like to work with everyone of you, the reality is that not everyone can emerge. So, whoever emerges, support him or her.”

She further urged the incoming administration to maintain the peace that exists on the University Campus.

She said, “…The State Government is always proud that Lagos State University (LASU) is peaceful. Even when others went on strike, we were here working and that is something that has reflected positively on us. In the last admission exercise, LASU was the most subscribed University in Nigeria with over Forty Thousand (40,000) applications. We have been able to achieve this because of our stability. So, let’s maintain it.”

She used the opportunity to clear the air on the payment of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA). “Rumours that I said the Government has paid the last tranche of the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) is false. When I went on Traffic Radio, I made it clear live on air that the State Government has paid the EAA substantially and that we are still expecting the last tranche of the money.

“We are yet to receive the last tranche like is being peddled about. We are actively following up with the Government to make the payment just as we are working on other emoluments that have been approved by the Government,” the VC said.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Olufunsho Omobitan also added his voice: “In the last Four (4) months, I have been involved in two (2) elections. First to return as Dean of my Faculty and to become the Deputy Vice Chancellor. On both occasions, I worked hard and campaigned. I never had the backing of the Vice Chancellor before I emerged. She gave a level playing ground and that is exactly what she is also doing. The Vice Chancellor has no favourite candidate. Let everyone contest and whoever emerges must ensure that first and foremost, there is peace in Lagos State University (LASU).*

To secure their commitment to a peaceful election, the Vice Chancellor called on the three (3) aspirants for the chairmanship position to make verbal declarations of intent to the cause, a request that was promptly effected by the incumbent chairman, Comrade Sanni Moruf Ige, and his challengers – Comrade Folarin Akin-Roberts and Comrade Obafemi Sanni. The trio pledged to keep the peace, direct their followers to do so and abide by the outcome of the election.

Former Leaders of the Union, Comrade Lookman Oluwa, Comrade Yakub Jubril and Comrade Femi Ajose; Chairman Non-Academic Staff Union Lagos State University College of Medicine (NASU LASUCOM), Ikeja, Lagos, Comrade Bello Dauda and an aspirant, Comrade Kelani Mohammed also made contributions towards issues of the welfare of staff and the success of the election.

The meeting was also attended by members of the University Management and Senior Officials of the Vice Chancellor’s team.