Management Position on Issues Raised by ASUU, UNILAG

Management of the University of Lagos, UNILAG presented her position regarding the issues raised by ASUU, UNILAG chapter, following the Sensitisation rally they earlier embarked upon on Wednesday, November 12.

Following the rally organized by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Lagos Chapter on Wednesday, November 12 as well as the content of some posters pasted around the campus, the University Management wishes to present her position on the issues raised by the Union:

1. NOTIONAL PROMOTION: The abrogation of notional promotion was earlier approved by the Governing Council in 2011 and appointments were to take effect from the date of approval by the A & P Board. In implementation, beneficiaries complained of loss of seniority and the situation had to be reversed. Completely eliminating notional promotion has its attendant financial implications. This has now been referred to Council for determination.
2. ACCUMULATED LEAVE: This issue, as presented by the Union, is not a true reflection of the position. Some members of staff have already been enjoying their respective accumulated leave and there is no directive that this should be discontinued
3. NO VACANCY, NO PROMOTION: This is a very much misunderstood view.  Management’s position is that even when someone is promoted, he/she has to earn a salary which must be provided for in the budgetary estimates/establishment. However, the establishment positions in all departments were increased by over 50% (fifty percent) by this administration to accommodate all immediate needs. Deans and HODs are to process additional future needs through the Development Committee as statutorily required.
4. NO PHD, NO PROMOTION/CONFIRMATION: The position of the National Universities Commission (NUC) is that all Lecturers from Lecturer II and above in any Nigerian University must possess Doctoral Degrees.  In the University of Lagos, appointment/promotion up to Lecturer II is still allowed without a Ph.D. In the same vein, the University Senate has not approved that Assistant Lecturers could be appointed on the Panel of Examiners in any department and therefore those staff in this category cannot be confirmed.  Management has already processed issues raised on this subject to A & P Board and Council for further consideration.
5. PROFESSORIAL GRADE ONLY THROUGH APPOINTMENT: All Professors are normally appointed either through prima-facie or adverts and are assessed and processed in the same manner.   However, either by promotion or appointment, there must be financial provision for the payment of the salaries of staff so appointed in the staff establishment/budget estimate.
6. TREATING ACADEMIC STAFF AS SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS: All members of staff of the University are treated as first class citizens in this University of first choice and the nation’s pride.
7. NON-DEMOCRATIZATION OF DEPARTMENTAL HEADSHIPS: This issue, when raised by ASUU, was sent to the Governing Council. The Council sent it to Senate for consideration and Senate, thereafter, set up a broad based Committee which interacted with all stakeholders on the matter.  The report of the Senate Committee has been forwarded to Council. 
8. ARBITRARINESS IN PROMOTION CRITERIA/REPLACEMENT OF CONDITIONS OF SERVICE WITH INTERMITTENT MEMOS: The Conditions of Service Governing Senior Staff (Yellow Book) was last published at the University of Lagos in 1994. This administration had taken this up effectively and is at the final stages of review and publication. The new revised edition will be circulated soonest.

The University Management wishes to use this opportunity to urge all members of the University Community and public to discountenance any form of misinformation as well as reiterate its commitment to the vision statement of the University which is: TO BE A TOP CLASS INSTITUTION FOR THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE IN KNOWLEDGE THROUGH LEARNING AND RESEARCH, AS WELL AS IN CHARACTER AND SERVICE TO HUMANITY.