FOLLOWING the announcement by the Authorities of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, stating that the institution will reopen on Friday, the institution’s alumni association has lauded Governors of Oyo and Osun State , Abiola Ajimobi and Rauf Aregbesola respectively for the temporary palliative measure in respect of the N500m grant released.
According to a press statement jointly signed by its National President, Babajide Bewaji, the General Secretary, Oloso Kamal Kolawole and its PRO, Owoyokun Samson, it disclosed that the association was happy that peace and understanding is gradually returning to the citadel of learning, while urging the institution’s chapter of the labour force movements comprising the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities – SSANU, National Association of Academic Technologist – NAAT and Non Academic Staff of University (NASU) to come to terms with the realities of the economic and financial situations and create an enabling environment for the restoration of academic activities.
The association further advised that other grievances and agitations should be discussed on a round-table with the school management.The statement reads, “while we are grateful for the gesture of the two states, we are appealing to them to device means by which subvention would be provided continually without delay. The five hundred million naira released to the institution to pay two out of the eight months salary arrears should be a point of commencement, the two houses of assembly should help look into how the budgetary allocation to LAUTECH would be able to meet its financial obligations by commencing the enactment of a bill to channel a token in percentage of local governments allocation from the two states to fund the university adequately.
“We thank all the unions -ASUU, SSANU, NAAT, NASU, parents and guardians most especially the ever reasonable Ladokites for their perseverance while the whole issue lasted. The students also should cooperate with the academic and non academic staff to ensure a hitch-free resumption”, its stressed.
The reopening of LAUTECH is coming nine (9) months after it was shut down, following the decision of workers protesting against the non-payment of their salaries.
