LAUTECH workers’ Union absolves VC of allegations of incitement

The Non Academic Staff Union of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso (LAUTECH) has absolved the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the institution, Professor Michael Olufisayo Ologunde, of sundry allegations of incitement over unpaid salary arrears by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.

The union stressed that the recent demand for payment of the unpaid salaries and allowances of its members was not instigated by the management of the institution.

The state gaffer, Makinde, yesterday in a statewide monthly live media chat on the state owned radio and television stations, had earlier alleged that the institution’s Vice Chancellor was the brain behind workers’ demand for immediate payment of their salary arrears barely one month after the state took over management of the Institution.

Governor Makinde said it is disheartening to note that a VC of a reputable institution like LAUTECH could be fingered in such an act.

But, LAUTECH workers’ Union, in a statement signed by the chairman of the Joint Action Committee of the non-teaching staff, Alex Alesinloye Muraina and made available to journalists on Saturday in Ogbomoso, insisted that the allegation that certain members of the institution’s management are instigating workers’ union to demand for their allowances is a ‘flagrant distortion of truth’.

Muraina added that workers don’t need anyone to push them to ask for their emoluments.

The statement read , “We are compelled to react to the radio phone-in programme of His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State this morning on 98.5 FM, particularly as it affects the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, and the demand by the Joint Action Committee of the non-teaching staff, for accumulated unpaid salaries and allowances dating back to 2012.

“With all sense of responsibility, we are aware of the various efforts of our amiable Governor to put LAUTECH on the global map through his generosity.

“We are also aware that some mischievous individuals are working assiduously to ensure that the Governor is enlisted in moves to unjustly punish some individuals.

“In an apparent satisfaction with the running of the institution by the management as currently constituted, JAC noted that the current vice chancellor is the first to be appointed from within the University community since LAUTECH’s establishment over three decades ago”.

Muraina, who is also the chairman of the university’s Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities recalled that the agitation, especially  for unpaid salaries has been on since 2016, when the present crop of leaders of LAUTECH were at best lecturers and administrators, holding no special position.

He explained that workers have continually made representations to succeeding administrations in the two owner states before recently when Oyo became the sole owner.

The statement continued, “This is the first time in the over 30 years existence of the University, that an insider will be Vice-Chancellor and we have never had it this good.

“That some members of Management of the Institution have been instigating workers’ unions to ask for payment of their emoluments is a flagrant distortion of fact, because all workers are aware of what is being owed them and do not need to be reminded to ask for their wages.

“We have also made representations to the present Governor of Oyo State not fewer than three times before the last one, so it is wrong to say that demands are being made now because Oyo owns LAUTECH.

“For the avoidance of doubts, LAUTECH non-teaching staff are being owed 8 months salaries, 13 months cooperative deductions, promotion arrears, earned allowances for years among other things”.

The workers in the statement, however appealed to Governor Makinde to do everything within his power to facilitate payment of their accumulated allowances, noting that the situation has led to untimely death of some members while some of them are dying.

“Rather than engage the Governor who has proved to be our friend and benefactor in a squabble and become ingrates, we want to appeal to him to see the need to facilitate payment of all outstanding emoluments, considering that a number of our people have died due to their inability to cater for their health, more are still dying.

“We want to assure the Governor of our sincere hundred percent loyalty and support to his government.

“We want to plead with him to jettison whatever anyone may be telling him in order to put a wedge between Management of LAUTECH and his government.

“The leadership of the workers’ Union in LAUTECH, the only Institution in the State where payment of minimum wage has not commenced, is hereby reiterating that the present crop of Management is the best in our over 30 years history and that we thank Governor Makinde for undertaking not to tamper with the present structure, for now”, the statement added.