ASUU gives FG conditions for resumption of academic activities in LAUTECH

ASUU gives FG conditions for resumption of academic activities in LAUTECH

The Academic Staff Union of Universities , Ladoke Akintola University of Technology , Ogbomoso chapter , on Monday gave its conditions for ending the ongoing industrial action at the institution .
The Chairman of the union , Dr Biodun Olaniran , told newsmen in Ogbomoso that meeting the conditions would end the crisis .
The management of the institution had announced Friday for re- opening after it had been shut for eight months.
But ASUU rejected the resumption date , declaring that it had not called off its industrial action which began on September 19 , 2016 .
Olaniran stated that while the school had resumed , academic activities were yet to commence as a result of the ongoing strike .
He said that the impasse could be resolved through transparent commitment , urging government to demonstrate honesty of purpose .
Olaniran urged the government to clearly state a plan of sustainable funding pattern or framework for the university.
He said , “Government should provide an agreeable plan of defraying the indebtedness of the outstanding N7 . 1 billion to the university.
“ They should issue a clear commitment to the settlement of arrears of sundry allowances accumulated over the years , ’’ he said .
The ASUU chairman stated that refusal to pragmatically and honestly address the demands could deepen the crises .
“ Salary is not the real issue. Our major demand borders most on the funding of the institution .
“ Internally Generated Revenue can never be a substitute to the funding of the university, ’’ he said .
Also speaking , Dr Ade Adejumo , the Zonal Coordinator , Ibadan Zone of ASUU , stated that the union would not go back on its demands until they were met .
Adejumo , who said that the government had only paid N500 million out of the N 7 . 6 billion outstanding arrears , added :
He said , “ None of our members is pensionable if he or she is relieved of the job today .
“ We have cried that universities cannot sustain itself on IGR .
“ The development is in the public domain and it will be irresponsible of us if we resume without achieving our demands. ’’
Meanwhile , some students of the institution have appealed to their striking lecturers , the management and owner - governments to resolve the crisis .
Miss Rukayat Aremo , a 500 level student of Agricultural Science , appealed to the striking lecturers to put the plight of the students into consideration .
Another student , Yahya Samuel , said many of his colleagues had resumed and were ready to begin academic activities as soon as possible .
The owner state governments of Oyo and Osun had paid N584 m to offset two months outstanding salaries .
The two months salaries were said to have been agreed upon by government , management and the various unions.
The money was paid on Jan . 23 and Jan . 27 .
Some members of staff and students of the institution had resumed while academic activities were yet to commence .