In an effort to bring to an end the debilitating crisis that has for many months, put Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho under lock and key, the LAUTECH Chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has appealed for the needful intervention of the University’s Pro-Chancellor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to come to the rescue of the Institution.

Making the appeal during a media chat with the Southwest Group of Online Publishers (SWEGOP) on Tuesday 27th June 2017 at CEOAfrica building, Onireke Ibadan, the Union noted that the silence of the institution’s Pro-Chancellor concerning the disturbing situation was unappreciated and uncomfortable, calling on him to wade into the situation.

 Chairman of ASUU, LAUTECH Chapter, Comrade Abiodun Olaniran (L) during a media chat with SWEGOP

The Chairman of the Union, Comrade Abiodun Olaniran said “We are not comfortable with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s silence on the matter. He has a significant role to play and we want him to intervene quickly and bring an end to the lingering crisis. Up until now, the Governing Council and Management of the Institution are yet to say anything over the crisis rocking the institution and this is suspicious.”

Comrade Olaniran, who noted that the University’s major challenge is simply “Chronic Underfunding”, recalled that tactical measures were earlier taken to avert the crisis that befell the school but all efforts to keep to the agreement by the management proved abortive. He confirmed that series of meetings were held with concerned authorities like the, Executive, Judicial and Legislative arms of government of Oyo and Osun States respectively which yielded no result.

While stating that he was against the use of Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) for the payment of salaries, the ASUU Chairman, who confirmed that LAUTECH had been paying staff with IGRs for 18 months, declared that IGRs should not be used to pay salaries, but should only be used as additions to the subventions provided by the Owner-State Governments.

The Chairman queried “Where is the bailout funds allocated to these two states? And what is the bailout funds supposed to be used for if not for situations like this? Let the Owner States stop saying there’s no money to fund the University when we obviously know it is not true.”

Noting that the crisis has adverse effects on the students of the institution, Comrade Olaniran said “the future of the students is the major concern for us and the Union is looking at all possible means of ending the indefinite strike embarked upon by the Academic Union but the silence of the Governing Council as well as the lackadaisical attitude of the Owner states are not helping and this is frustrating our efforts.

Comrade Olaniran (L) with the Anchor of SWEGOP media chat

Comrade Olaniran further stated that the government authorities should come up with lasting solution to the institution’s challenges, noting that the Union is open for dialogue and committed to the solving the problem so that academic activities can return back to normal in the University. He called on the Owner States of the Institution to implement Wole Olanipekun’s recommendation on the crisis.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Micheal Adeyemo, while speaking with CEOAfrica during an interview on Monday, stated that the crisis in LAUTECH had been brimming for a long time but unfortunately exploded during this administration.

Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Micheal Adeyemo at CEOAfrica

The lawmaker expressed displeasure at the accusing fingers pointed at the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi as the architect of the Institution’s misfortune, clarifying that the Osun State Government were more responsible for the crisis as they failed in remitting their quota of subvention to the school.

The Speaker revealed that Governor Ajimobi had at a point expressed the desire to acquire sole ownership of the embattled University but a court order stating that no effort, activity or decision should be made about LAUTECH without the consent of the partner state, prevented any altruistic efforts by the Oyo State Government.

Hon Adeyemo further noted that the Oyo State government is still remitting 25 per cent of its quota to the Institution monthly in spite of the fact that Osun State has not been upholding its side of the partnership. “Our House of Assembly has even called a joint meeting with the Osun State House of Assembly. Although we just received an affirmation letter from them, the body language is still not encouraging.

“So, people should look somewhere else and stop attacking the government of Oyo State. It is because the institution is sited in Oyo state that is why the pressure is so much on our government. We have taken proactive steps but when you have something that cannot make you go beyond, there is nothing you can do.” the legislator said.

Explaining the way forward in the University’s crisis, Hon Adeyemo said that the Oyo Assembly in its resolution declared that solving LAUTECH’s problem will require immediate, short-term, medium-term and long-term solutions. He said “The monthly subventions should continue while the authorities concerned would continue to put a system in place that would address the gamut of challenges in LAUTECH.”