Lagos govt says LASU protest uncalled for

The Lagos State government has described the Monday protest by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, as “cheap blackmail”.

The protesters had accused the state government of non-implementation of increment in salaries of workers as earlier promised over a year ago.

But speaking on behalf of the state government, Tokunbo Wahab, special adviser to the governor on education, said the protest was “uncalled for”.

“LASU, like other subvented ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), collects the sum of N450,000,000.00 (Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) monthly from the Lagos State Government as subvention,” Wahab said.

He said the government expects the institutions to also be responsible in the application of the funds and the staffing of the institutions.

READ ALSO: NibblesNG restates commitment to making local cuisines accessible to urban communities in Lagos

“We must also remember that they have Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) which they generate and not accountable to anyone on how same is expended.

“Aside from the subvention, the government is also responsible for the infrastructural developments of the institutions and other ancillary things including payment for accreditation exercise for which the last one cost the government N450 million,” he said.

Wahab said the government has never promised the union salary increment at any time and that the protest by the unions is pure blackmail.

“My appeal to the protesters is to have a rethink. Protest is not the right approach to solving this problem. The union should look inward by asking the management questions on finding and not heap the blame on the state government,” the special adviser said.

“The present administration led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been so benevolent to LASU since assumption of office and should be commended rather than being condemned,” he said.

On phased resumption, Wahab, a lawyer, stressed that compliance with COVID-19 safety rules is a vital prerequisite.

Premium Times Reports: Minimum Wage: Workers in LASU, LASPOTECH, other Lagos tertiary institutions protest