ASUU rejects N500m contribution by Osun, Oyo over LAUTECH crisis

Hope of resumption for aggrieved students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) has dimmed as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the institution rejected the N500 million intervention fund provided by the owner state governments of Oyo and Osun.

ASUU described the fund as a ploy to lure its members back to the classroom without addressing the real problems confronting the institution.

The academic and non-academic staff unions of the institution had embarked on indefinite strike action for over eight months over non-payment of salaries.

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 and long-term solutions discussed at their stakeholders meetings.

But ASUU rising from its congress vowed to continue the industrial action, stressing that the fundamental problems of funding and sustainability have not been addressed.

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.”