LAUTECH may collapse – ASUU
The Academic Staff Union of University, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso chapter, yesterday raised the alarm that the institution might collapse.
It lamented infrastructural decay in the institution, nonpayment of workers’ salaries and shortage of manpower.
The union, in a statement jointly signed by its chairman, Biodun Olaniran and the secretary, Toyin Abegunrin, said Osun and Oyo State governments should be blamed for whatever happened to the institution.
The statement read in part: “Recall that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) LAUTECH branch in the press statement of the 26th July, 2018 warned about the impeding crises in the University due to government’s refusal to fund the University as part of their cardinal responsibilities to the Nigerian masses.
“This has led to the accumulation of unpaid salaries. Prompt payment of salaries which is a major motivating ingredient of productivity has become a mirage in our erstwhile glorious and exemplary state University which in the past, was the glory of Oyo and Osun states.
“Presently, suffering and uncertainty of survival means have become the abiding companions of staff members. After the alarm raised in said release by the Union, one would expect that a sensitive government would have responded positively towards averting the looming crises.
“However to our dismay, nothing was said or done on the release. It is unfortunate that about 8 months after the suspension of strike in the University, all the promises of the University Governing Council (GC) that led to the suspension have not been fulfilled. It is saddening to report that up till now, the members of staff are being owed 10 months salary, promotion arrears, among other allowances. Salaries are being paid through Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) majorly from school fees.
“It should be recalled that the Union also called on the members of the public to reach out to the Visitors to do the needful. Up till now, no response of any sort was received.”