The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso chapter, on Monday gave its conditions for ending the ongoing industrial action at the institution. Biodun Olaniran, the Chairman of the union, told journalists in Ogbomoso that meeting the conditions would end the crisis. The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that 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. Mr. 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. Mr. Olaniran urged the government to clearly state a plan of sustainable funding pattern or framework for the university.

“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, Ade Adejumo, the Zonal Coordinator, Ibadan Zone of ASUU, stated that the union would not go back on its demands until they were met. Mr. Adejumo, who said that the government had only paid N500 million out of the N7.6 billion outstanding arrears, added:

“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. 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.

NAN reports that the owner state governments of Oyo and Osun had paid N584 million 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 January 23 and 27.

NAN also reports that some members of staff and students of the institution had resumed while academic activities were yet to commence.

Source: (NAN)