ASUU Suspends Strike, LAUTECH Students Resume On Monday - Latest Reality

The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities has suspended its strike.

The ASUU Chairman in the university, Dr Biodun Olaniran, disclosed this in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Osogbo on Tuesday.

He said, “We have suspended the strike and lectures will resume on Monday, October 23. But the detail will be stated in our press statement which will be issued very soon.”

The Chairman, Joint Action Committee in the university, Alhaji Muraina Alesinloye, when contacted, said workers had been paid three months out of the 12 months’ salaries they were owed by the university.

JAC comprises Senior Staff Association of University, Non-Academic Staff Union and National Association of Academic Technologists.

Alesinloye, who is also the chairman of the Senior Staff Association of University, however, said the congress of the three unions would determine the next line of action.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Government has expressed its commitment to LAUTECH and the workers.

The Osun State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Adelani Baderinwa, in a statement issued after the unions suspended their strike, said, “Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, and the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, were very sensitive about LAUTECH matter and they have exhibited reasonable and convincing commitment to the welfare of the workers of the institution and the plight of the students.

“It would be recalled that the Osun government recently released the sum of N1bn to the university.

“Notwithstanding pressure from some quarters that the Osun State Government should not commit the state resources to LAUTECH due to obvious marginalisation of the state in LAUTECH, Governor Aregbesola will not cease in funding LAUTECH and will stop at nothing in ensuring that LAUTECH is back on its feet.”

He added, “The basis of agitation of Osun people is that Oyo indigenes in the employment of LAUTECH are about thrice that of Osun while only one faculty in the institution is located in Osun as against the seven faculties located in Oyo despite the equality in funding by the two states.

“There is no any other way to express sensitivity and commitment to the progress of the institution, the welfare of its workers and the plight of the students.”