Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, has suspended the remittance of check-off dues for its lecturers who are members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Spokesman Ademola Adekoya told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Monday in Lagos that remittance of the check-off dues into the Union Bank accounts remained suspended, pending when the management and operation of the account(s) would be regularised.
“In the circumstance, the vice chancellor, in the exercise of his supervisory and general responsibility to the council to maintain good order, has directed the suspension of remittance of check-off dues of members.
“The remittance of check-off dues into ASUU-LASU bank accounts remains suspended pending when the management and operation of the account(s) are regularised,” he said.
Adekoya said the management’s decision followed receipt of a petition signed by about 70 per cent of the ASUU-LASU members.
He said the petition alleged that the union erstwhile chairman, Dr. Isaac Oyewunmi, is still part of those operating the bank account of the union, despite being a worker of another institution.
NAN reports that the LASU Governing Council on September 7, 2017 dismissed Oyewunmi for misconduct bordering on extortion of money from students and Dr. Adebowale Adeyemi-Suenu, the former vice chairman of ASUU-LASU.
Adeyemi-Suenu was also dismissed for misconduct bordering on manipulation of students’ results.
Adekoya said by virtue of their dismissal, they ceased to be members of ASUU-LASU from September 7, 2017.
“But reports reaching the management confirmed that Oyewunmi and Adeyemi-Suenu had illegally been collecting monthly allowances of N50,000 each from the general monthly deductions of ASUU-LASU members.
“The petitioners further alleged that the management is acting in concert with the executive of ASUU-LASU to defraud members of ASUU-LASU.
“The summary of the response of the secretary of ASUU-LASU is that the above issues concern the internal workings of the union and relate to the interpretation of the union’s constitution and code of practice.
“The relevant financial institutions of the Union Bank account have, however, confirmed that Oyewunmi, as at January 9, is a signatory to the bank accounts of ASUU-LASU,” he said.
Adekoya said managing and operating the ASUU-LASU bank accounts by Oyewunmi bordered on criminal conspiracy, fraud and corruption.
He said the management would not allow the mechanisms of the university to be used to aid and abet fraud and corruption.