The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is staging a rally today, Tuesday, in protest against the dismissal of five lecturers at Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo. The rally, organized by ASUU’s Owerri Zone, began at 10 am and aims to challenge what the union calls the “illegal dismissal” of the lecturers.

In a statement released by ASUU, the union condemned the ongoing victimization of its members in several Nigerian universities. Alongside LASU, the statement highlighted other institutions where similar issues have arisen, including Kogi State University (KSU), Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Ambrose Ali University Ekpoma (AAUE) in Edo State, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) in Anambra State, and the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) in Imo State.

“Fellow Nigerians and compatriots, we are disheartened by the deliberate reluctance of university administrations to halt the spiraling victimization of academic staff who stand for truth,” the statement read.

ASUU accused university managements of unjustly dismissing, suspending, and withholding the salaries of lecturers who sought to uphold academic integrity. The union expressed particular outrage over the ongoing injustice faced by its members at Kogi State University, who have been waiting for seven years for a fair judgment.

The dismissed LASU lecturers, including former ASUU Chairman Isaac Oyewumi, Vice Chairman Adebowale Adeyemi-Suenu, Secretary Dr. Tony Dansu, Assistant Secretary Adeolu Oluwaseyi Oyekan, and Treasurer Oluwakemi Aboderin-Shonibare, were accused of unauthorized handling of confidential documents. However, the lecturers have consistently denied the allegations.

ASUU’s rally today seeks to draw public attention to these cases of perceived injustice and pressure university authorities to reverse their decisions.