ASUU threatens showdown over LAUTECH crisis

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Lagos zone has threatened a showdown with the management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso over lingering crisis in the institution.
The ASUU Lagos zone , which comprises public Universities in South Western states, said the union should not be held responsible for any eventual protracted crisis in LAUTECH if the two-owner states fail to address the issues .

LAUTECH which was jointly owned and run by two states; Oyo and Osun is facing some challenges such as rapidly decaying infrastructure, non- payment of EAA, accumulated arrears of salaries and promotions as well as increase in tuition fees.

While addressing a press conferenece at the Union Secretariat at Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Cordinator of ASUU Lagos zone, Prof. Olusiji Sowande described the challenges facing the institution as pathetic .

Prof. Sowande said the National Executive Council of ASUU at its meeting in Calabar had directed the Lagos zone to sound a note of warning and as well appeal to two owner-states over the protracted crisis.

He said despite the Memorandum of Action the ASUU signed with the governing council of LAUTECH , the situasion persists.

The ASUU however, recommends that for the institution to be well-funded, Osun state government should cede it to its partner state,Oyo.

He said “recall that the Academic Staff Union of Universities,LAUTECH branch, conditionally suspended the eight months old strike in February 2018 after signing a Memorandum of Action with the governing council of the university.

“The strike was suspended after series of interventions by well-meaning citizens of Oyo and Osun states as well as other concerned Nigerians .

“One woud expect that the funding of this University would improve to forestall the reoccurence of such avoidable long strike action .

“Breach of the MoA is evidenced by continous infrastructural decay, unpaid salary arrears of ten months, irregular cum dwindling payment of monthly salary since May 2018, non-payment of four years promotion arrears (2014,2015,2016 and 2017) and non-payment of Earned Academic Allowance

“Furthermore , the non-release of the report of visitation panel, chaired by Wole Olanipekun,SAN, set up to reccommend lasting solutions for resolving the recurrent funding crisis of the University.

“To make the matter worst , the governing council of LAUTECH recently approved increase in tuition fees N200,000 minimum and N300,000 maximum) in a manner that is provocative and clearly shows lack of sensitivity to the plight of the poor and struggling students of LAUTECH

“What started as a little agitation has aggravated to No Pay, No work and now two weeks warning strike, the union should not be held responsible for further disruption of academic and other activities in LAUTECH.

“The general public , prominent and well-meaning indigines of Oyo and Osun states are hereby called upon to prevail on the governors of the two owner states to improve on the funding of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology ,Ogbomoso with a view to urgently addressing the issues of rapidly decaying infrastructure ,payment of EAA, accumulated arrears of salaries and promotions as well as increase in tuition fees.

“Our union should not be held responsible for any eventual potracted crisis in LAUTECH”, he said.

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