EXCLUSIVE: Crisis Brews At Lagos State University LASUED Over Promotion Scandals, Mismanagement, Victimisation Of Staff

While senior academics and deserving staff remain stagnated, reports reveal that the institution is currently embroiled in a "promotion-for-cronies" scandal.

A brewing crisis at the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) has exposed a web of alleged administrative lawlessness, financial injustice, and the targeted victimisation of staff under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bidemi Balikis Lafiaji-Okuneye.

While senior academics and deserving staff remain stagnated, reports reveal that the institution is currently embroiled in a "promotion-for-cronies" scandal.

Sources told SaharaReporters that "spies" and "stooges" of the Vice-Chancellor are being catapulted through grade levels in total defiance of university regulations and statutory guidelines.

The sources within the university, who spoke to SaharaReporters on Monday on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, described an environment where loyalty to the Vice-Chancellor reportedly trumps merit.

According to internal whistleblowers, Professor Lafiaji-Okuneye recently released an internal advertisement designed to favour a select group of followers.

The most egregious example cited involves a staff member in the catering unit, reportedly brought into the system from the Lagos State University (LASU).

"One of her stooges was promoted from Grade Level 3 to Grade Level 8, and then from Level 8 to Level 13 — all within three years," a source disclosed.

"As if that was not enough, some staff were moved from Grade Level 7 to 11, and Grade Level 8 to 13."

The source further alleged that these beneficiaries, some of whom have not yet received official confirmation letters, were promoted without the mandatory approval of the University Governing Council.

The staff are allegedly stationed in strategic units, including the Center for Diploma Studies and the College of Humanities Education (COHED), to serve as "eyes and ears" for the management.

The rapid-fire promotion of the VC’s inner circle stands in stark contrast to the treatment of the wider workforce.

Staff members promoted in 2023 are reportedly owed nine months of promotion arrears, which remain unpaid despite the university’s ongoing financial operations.

Furthermore, academic staff due for promotion in 2024 and 2025 — particularly those in the high-ranking professorial cadre— have reportedly had their career progression frozen, with management allegedly refusing to process their applications.

"We now have a Vice-Chancellor who has usurped the functions of the governing council. In fact, the Governing Council is at her mercy," a source lamented.

"It is alleged that the council chairperson and other members are 'cashing out' from the system, which is why they cannot control the VC. It is a display of gross incompetence."

Efforts by staff to seek intervention from the Lagos State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr. Tolani Sule, have reportedly hit a brick wall.

Insiders claim the Commissioner has been "begging" the Vice-Chancellor rather than calling her to order, leading to whispers that the ministry's oversight has been compromised.

"LASUED VC is the management, the Governing Council, and the Commissioner combined," one staffer remarked bitterly to SaharaReporters.

Frustrated workers are now issuing an urgent appeal to the Visitor of the University, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to intervene before the institution collapses.

They are demanding the immediate inauguration of an independent visitation panel to investigate the alleged "high-handedness" of the Vice-Chancellor and financial irregularities within the Governing Council.

Attempts to reach Prof Bidemi Balikis Lafiaji-Okuneye for comment were unsuccessful, as she did not respond to repeated calls placed to her mobile phone.