LASU VC canvasses use of ADR for conflict resolution inuniversities

The Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Professor John Obafunwa has canvassed the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to resolve crisis and conflict management in Nigerian Universities, as against the incessant strike actions and violence by students witnessed in very recent times.

Obafunwa, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from the University of Northumbria, England, described the various ADR mechanisms as the best approach in solving problems and conflict situations within the school, condemning the uncivilized methods adopted my students and other university bodies, which according to him, did not portray a good image of the schools or its students to the observing public.

In his chat with LEGAL BUSINESS, over the weekend, the professor of Forensic Pathology at the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) said, “I have always told the students, going on strike is not in their best interest. It is self-destructive and they should pay no attention to union or lecturers encouraging strike actions as it only soils our image, gives us a bad name and stands as an academic set back.

“There are many ways to resolve a dispute asides going on strike, adopting the Alternative Dispute Resolution system, dialogue is a more civilized approach”.

According to Obafunwa, the school’s incessant strike has left a dented image on the school, which is now described as being famous for violence and strike actions.

He continued, “If as an institution, you do not have a stable educational calendar, it would be difficult to attract external assistance from private organisations or individuals and why should they, if we don’t give them reason to?”

 “Just the other day, I was responding to an email to seek the assistance of the university in Malaysia, and then saw another verification email, asking that I provide an additional information about myself and LASU as a procedure for joining but the truth is, you can’t blame them because of the image they have about LASU and its students.

“One can only hope that the students would take advantage of the opportunity presented to them. We hope that the students can suspend strike actions and spend more time on their studies”, he reiterated.

Speaking on the recent fee reduction, Obafunwa stated that in some quarters, it would be viewed as a happy development but in another arena, it could be a problem as there would be need to seek for funds to maintain the university noting that the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN was recently at the House of Assembly to seek for funds for this purpose.

“The important thing is that we have a state government policy that is concerned about going back to the status quo. The institution’s fee reduction would be viewed as a good development. I do not share the view that it is a political decision; a Greek gift or a Swahili gift, but what I know is that something has been done.We cannot pretend not to know that nothing can be entirely free. It wasn’t just about reducing the fee to 25,000 naira somebody still needs to pick up  what is left unpaid by the students. Only time would tell what the effect of the reduction would be, the only way forward is for the students to ensure that they take full advantage of this opportunity given to them by facing their studies and preventing any activity that goes contrary to such, and where there is a misunderstanding in future, we should learn to dialogue, mediate and negotiate,” the VC urged.

Reacting to the fee reduction, a student of Law, Adeola Omosuyi described the development thus, “it is a good thing and calls for celebration, we fought for our rights, justice was served and we are happy that our efforts were not in vain. The fee reduction would bring a lot of advantage to the school, as it would attract more students back to the institution”.