ASUU decries neglect of LAUTECH by Osun, Oyo Govts

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday decried the neglect of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, by the owner states of Osun and Oyo.

Dr Ade Adejumon, Ibadan Zonal Coordinator of the union, spoke at a news conference in Osogbo.

Adejumon said that the institution was at the brink of total collapse due to inadequate funding, irregular payment of staff salaries and dearth of personnel.

He said that the institution’s lecturers were already on two weeks warning strike.

“We are currently on two weeks warning strike. We are calling attention to the fact that LAUTECH is on the brink of final disintegration.

“We are not so much concerned about non-payment of our 10 months salary arrears, promotion arrears, but rather our concern is the poor funding of the university.

“If nothing is done after the two weeks warning strike, then, we will proceed on an indefinite strike,’’ Adejumon said.

He noted that the Memorandum of Action, signed with the union before its last strike was called off had not been fulfilled by the owner state governments.

According him, many lecturers have left the university, while many have retired; there has not been recruitment of new hands for several years, and the university is understaffed.

Adejumon called on Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun and his Oyo counterpart, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi, to let the general public know if they could no longer fund the university.

The ASUU coordinator said the actions of the two state governments had shown that they were no longer interested in the running of the university.

He said that it was not possible for the institution to continue to rely only on its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to run the institution.