LAUTECH crisis, a sore thumb, say activists

A group of human rights activists, Movement for Peace and Development, has warned that the debilitating situation in the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State, is a simmering volcano which could
in future have an even more devastating effect than a bomb blast, if not sincerely addressed.
At a media briefing in Oyo town, Chairman of the group, Comrade Ayekale Olorunyomi, described the institution’s crisis as a “sore thumb sticking out as evidence of our collecting shame and hypocritical claim to reform education, governance and the very future of Nigeria by past administrations, which we all profess to love so much.”
According to him, in view of the fact that LAUTECH was adjudged one of the very best Nigerian universities, its current condition is best described as tragic.
“One would really need to be heartless not to feel sorry for the poor students who always get the bad end of the stick and whose lives are being mortgaged in instalments by the incessant problems bedeviling this hitherto to promising university. One wonders how it is ever so impossible for us in Nigeria to set up and preserve anything of value without allowing ego and personal interest to run the deal.”
Olorunyomi, however, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, the institution’s Chancellor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the two governors of Oyo and Osun States, as well as the unions to see the current state of LAUTECH as a source of state and national embarrassments, hence the need to proffer urgent solution to the impasse.
Said he: “All such situations in the country deserve urgent attention before our youths are completely drained of every sense of patriotism and national pride. It is immoral and irresponsible for our leaders to invest so much resources and energy in political campaigns and horse trading all over the nation, while our institutions like LAUTECH is left to rot because of non – payment of staff salaries.”
The Academic Staff of LAUTECH are currently on indefinite strike over harsh working environment.
The institution, according to the ASUU Chairman, Dr. Bodunrin Olaniran, is fast losing its seasoned academics due to what the academics referred to as “in conducive and harsh working environment.
So far, about six academic staff was reported to have left and without replacement.
Both the academic and non-academic staff are yet to receive their three months salaries.
Since 2008, it was reliably gathered that there had been no grants for capital projects, as all on-going physical structures on campus were either NEEDS assessment or TETFUND, thus making it difficult to believe that the varsity is jointly owned by two states’ governments.
Similarly, all internally generated revenues were being exhausted to augment payment staff salaries. While a sum of N 296 million was being released monthly for the payment of salaries, additional fund of about N84 million was being sourced for by the university management to settle a wage bill of between N360 million and N380 million.
This salary augmentation is adversely affecting promotion arrears, earned academic allowances, pensions and gratuity, office and laboratory facilities.
Also, for 21 months, no subvention has been made
available to the institution, as Osun State owes 11 months, while Oyo State owes 7 months.
It was further learnt that the university last received grants for research and development in 2010, as lecturers spend their personal money to carry out researches.
The university’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Lekan Fadeyi, said both the management and owner state governments are working to urgently address the challenges.