LASU Crisis: Assemblyman Urges Understanding

Eromosele Ebhomele

The Chairman of the Committee on Education, Science and Technology of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Wahab Alawiye-King, has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Lagos State University branch to consider government’s new position on the crisis in the university.

He also commended the state government over the reduction in the fees of the state university.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos had two weeks ago reduced the fees of the institution by 60 per cent in a bid to resolve the crises that followed the increase since 2012.

Alawiye-King, while reacting to the reduction in the fees as announced by the state government, told journalists at the House that it was the best way the government could show that it was actually people-friendly.

According to the lawmaker, part of the problem the school had faced was as a result of the increase in the fees.

“You may also remember that part of the complaints by the institution’s branch of the ASUU centred on the increased fees.

“This committee is happy with the way the government has reduced the fees. We are also hopeful that the lecturers would continue to work passionately while the government would gradually assist the school to attain that pride of place that we all want for it,” he said.

Recalling the roles the House also played in trying to resolve the crises, he said: “You remember that we had to invite the school’s Vice Chancellor, the students union body and other relevant persons to the House after a protest by the students and we tried to resolve the issue.

“I am happy today that things are being considered in favour of the students who are ready to resume classes, though I hear that there are still some complaints.

“I am very sure the deliberations that led to the resolution of the government for the reduction of  the fees didn’t just happen within a day. And I know the students know that the government has a lot of work to still do in the institution.”

Alawiye-King also urged the Federal Government to do everything within its powers to rescue the abducted girls from Chibok, Borno State.

According to him, the girls have passed through the worst trauma any individual could ever experience,

“For over two months, these girls are in a forest at the mercy of those who do not even think for a second about the sanctity of life., they have been physically and mentally abused, yet the Federal Government has behaved like all is well,” he lamented, while calling on Nigerians not to relent in their pressure on the government to do the needful.