ASUU, SSANU condemn Makinde’s step-aside order on LAUTECH VC

Gov lauds Adeyemo’s efforts at curtailing COVID-19 spread
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Chapter, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, has described the step aside order given to Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Michael Ologunde, by the Governor Seyi Makinde-led government as illegal.

The SSANU of the institution in a statement, yesterday, signed by its chairman, Fajoye Hamzat Oyelere, rejected the order.

In the letter, Fajoye noted that the vice chancellor could only be ordered to resign before the end of his tenure by the governing council.

The union said it received the news of the “step aside” order given to Ologunde with mixed feelings.

‘’The said letter did not categorically lay any allegation against the deposed vice chancellor other than saying that “His Excellency, Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, Governor of Oyo State and Visitor to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, has directed that the vice chancellor of the institution, Prof. M. O. Ologunde, should step aside until further notice.”

ALSO, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), LAUTECH Chapter, yesterday, described the decision as wrong.

The union, in a statement made available to journalists through the ASUU Chairman, Dr. Biodun Olaniran and Secretary, Dr. Toyin Abegunrin, described the suspension of the VC as a violation of the laws of the university.
BUT reacting, Oyo State Government, through the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, said the step was not a vendetta against the VC.

IN another development, Makinde has lauded the efforts of the first female Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnership of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Olanike Adeyemo, for providing support to the state at the outset of combating the spread of COVID-19 virus.

Makinde gave the commendation, yesterday, at a special reception held in honour of Adenike by friends, family and associates at Ilaji Resorts, Akanran, Ona-Ara Local Council in Ibadan as she completed her two-term tenure in the premier university.

The governor, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, said the contribution of the team from the ivory tower, led by Olanike, towards assisting the state in curtailing the spread of the virus, made Oyo State one of the states in Nigeria that successfully managed the curtailment.

He said that the co-operation between the government and the academic institution showed that societal development is hinged more on co-operation among stakeholders to find solutions to societal problems and forge new areas of development.

The governor thereby described Olanike as a worthy model that the younger female generation should look up to and emulate.