Lagos – Staff and Students Unions of the Lagos State University (LASU) on Thursday lauded Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for the new law approving 70 years retirement age for professors in the institution.
The law also allows a five-year single term for the university’s vice-chancellor, and makes the university residential, three decades after its establishment.
Dr Adekunle Idris, Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) LASU Chapter, commended the new law, saying it would shore up the image of the university.
“LASU community is indeed glad that the governor has done what past administration of the state could not do.
“We appreciate the governor for being sensitive and passionate to the yearnings of the masses.
“We also hail the Lagos State Assembly for doing the needful and implementing the Federal Government National Law of 2005.
“The approval of the law will bring LASU at par with the big wig institutions, and make the university attractive to reputable scholars.
“It is only unfortunate that some of our professorial members had been prematurely retired,’’ he said.
Idris urged the professors to give good leadership and reproduce themselves.
He advised them to train other academics, while also imparting excellent and required knowledge to the students, to improve the image of the university.
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The union leader said that the approval of the 65 years retirement age for the non-academics was also a good omen, and advised them to work assiduously.
Idris, however, urged the state government to still look into the law and address other areas which also needed amendment.
He said that it was not good enough to treat the issues piece meal; rather, a holistic approach to all contending issues was necessary.
Idris said that it would have been better if the five-year single term for the vice-chancellor was also applicable to all the principal officers, as proposed.
“For lasting peace to be sustained, it is better all the principal officers come in together and leave at the same time.
“This is in line with best practices and the university’s Miscellaneous Act,” he said.
Idris said that the union would not relent in ensuring that the government does the needful and approves other parts of the law which was ignored.
Mr Saheed Oseni, Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), LASU Chapter, said that the government’s action was welcome.
Oseni said that Ambode had proved that he was a listening leader who respects and obeys the rule of law and agreement.
He said that the law, when implemented, would go a long way in resolving the succession problem and crisis in LASU.
According to Oseni, converting LASU to a residential institution was laudable, as it would protect the students from the security threat in the area.
Prof. Kabir Akinyemi, Dean, Students Affairs, LASU, also commended the government, stating that the implementation of the law was more paramount than approval.
Akinyemi said that the construction of the hostels should commence soon, as this could be accelerated through the public private partnership (PPP) arrangement.
He said that the hostels would prevent LASU students from being vulnerable to social vices in the area.
“LASU is located in the midst of trouble-prone areas such as Alaba Market, `area boys’ at Iyana Iba, land speculators and the cultists at Iba, which have negative influence on the students,’’ the professor said.
Mr Adeyemi Onikoro, President, Lagos State University Students Union (LASUSU) also hailed the governor on the law.
Onikoro called for the implementation of the law as soon as possible, as the land earmarked for the hostels was available and already designed.
“We are grateful to the governor, as the students will be more secured living in the hostels, have easy access to their studies and they will no longer pay house rent anymore.
“The government should at least build a 1,000-capacity hostel, then the private partners can build theirs to augment, as the private owners hostels will be more expensive,’’ Onikoro said. (NAN)
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