Stop blackmailing us over LAUTECH’s audit, ASUU tells Ajimobi

•Denies obstructing exercise

The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has cautioned Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State against blackmailing it over the purported auditing of the institution. The union denied standing in the way of the exercise.

In a release, yesterday by its chairman, Dr Biodun Olaniran, the union challenged the governor to buttress his claim with tangible evidence. ASUU reiterated that it has nothing to do with the audit exercise and, therefore, cannot obstruct the exercise. It asked the Oyo government to focus energy on how the institution would benefit from the second tranche of the Paris Club refund released to the state.

The LAUTECH ASUU leadership challenged the governor to tell the people why KPMG, the consultant for the job, had not allegedly commenced operation due to non-formalisation of contractual agreement with the owner-states.

ASUU lamented that it shows the peak of arrogance of power for a government voted into power by the people to insist on being begged before attending to their yearnings.

The union described the new largesse as a golden opportunity to bail the tertiary institution out before the money goes to something else.Governor Ajimobi, had last week while ordering the re-opening of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, appealed to stakeholders at the Ogbomoso-based institution to allow unfettered access of auditors to its records. This, he submitted, would pave the way for the eventual reopening.

Asking the governor to provide honest framework for the sustainable funding of the institution, ASUU urged the owner states to adhere to the recommendations of the Wole Olanipekun panel.