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The plan of the management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, to reopen the institution on January 27 may not see the light of the day afterall as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the school has rejected the N500 million intervention fund provided by the Oyo and Osun state governments for the school to resume.
ASUU described the fund as a ploy to lure its members back into the classroom without addressing the real problems confronting the institution.
Recall that LAUTECH have been at home for over eight months after academic and non-academic staff unions of the institution embarked on indefinite strike actions over non-payment of salaries.
READ: Oyo, Osun contribute N500m to resolve LAUTECH crisis
Oyo and Osun state governments last week contributed N250 million each for the institution to pay two months salary arrears as a short-term solution while the concerned parties pursue the other medium term and long-term solutions discussed at their stakeholders meetings.
But ASUU in its resolution at a congress held January 19, vowed to continue the industrial action, stressing that the fundamental problems of funding and sustainability have not been addressed.
READ ALSO: Finally, LAUTECH reopens January 27; exams start February 13
Part of the resolution signed by its Chairman, Dr Biodun Olaniran, and Secretary, Dr Toyin Abegunrin, reads: “The offer of two months is, at best, an ad-hoc arrangement to lure us back to work without addressing the fundamental problem of funding and sustainability. It is our considered opinion that this token offered at this point does not justify the length of time that the crisis has been allowed to linger by the government. It is better to address the issues in contention once and for all. This is the only path to lasting industrial harmony in LAUTECH.”
The union called for the release of the report of the last visitation panel. It expressed belief that the report will “comprehensively address the issue of funding and as such, rushing to reopen the university before the report is received will amount to putting the cat before the horse. This will be counter-productive in this instance. The government should expedite actions in this regard rather than resorting to this fire-brigade approach.”