Some lecturers at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) under the auspices of LAUTECH Alumnus Lecturers on Thursday defied the directive from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), LAUTECH branch, to continue with the ongoing industrial action.
DAILY POST recalls that Chairman and Secretary of ASUU in the institution, Dr. Biodun Olaniran and Dr. Toyin Abegunrin respectively, had on Wednesday issued a statement, warning lectures to boycott the directive from the management of the school to resume work on Thursday.
The union argued that LAUTECH was part of the national struggle of the union and it is not ready to call off the strike until the strike is over at the national level.
But the alumni association, in a press statement issued in Ogbomoso and signed by the duo of Professor Omotayo Amuda and Dr. Azeem Ige, on Thursday, said it was ready to save the institution from further embarrassment and went on to direct members who are lecturers in the institution to resume duty.
The duo expressed sadness over the fortune of the institution which recently resumed after almost two years of strike because of under-funding by the owner-states of Oyo and Osun.
The alumnus, working in the school, maintained that: “Given the recent development, enrolment ratio has dwindled as many prospective students offering ‘JAMB’ keep running away from opting for LAUTECH as a university of choice”.
They said, “We can no longer fold our arms and watch the institution go into oblivion as a result of protracted ASUU strike actions both at local and national thus culminating into about two sessions of non–academic activities.
“This is to bring the notice of the public that arising from rigorous deliberations at the several meetings of LAUTECH Alumni, it was resolved hereby that the academic staff that are alumni members of LAUTECH resume academic activities today, 3rd January, 2019.
“The students (stale and fresh) that have fulfilled their financial obligations to the university in terms of payment of tuition fees are hereby advised to resume classrooms from today 3rd of January, 2019 as academic activities have resumed in earnest”.
“The association also implore other colleagues to join hands and salvage the horrible state of LAUTECH”.
But, Chairman and Secretary of the union, Dr. Biodun Olaniran and Dr. Toyin Abegunrin while reacting, argued that only NEC of ASUU which declared the strike can suspend it after due consultations with branches.
The duo, in a statement made available to DAILY POST Friday morning, said, “The ongoing ASUU strike was popularly decided upon by all the Branches of the Union that advised the national body to declare the action in three different congresses, LAUTECH inclusive.
“Consequent upon this, LAUTECH is still on strike just like the other Branches of the Union. It is only the NEC which declared the action that can suspend it after due consultations with Branches. Negotiations are ongoing with the Federal Government and good progress is being recorded. We are optimistic that success will soon be recorded.
“Arising from the above, we want to state clearly that ASUU LAUTECH is still fully on strike and our members will not engage in any academic activity during the pendency of the action”.
They advised parents and students to disregard any information contrary to the one issued by ASUU.
“Parents and students are enjoined to disregard any information to the contrary. We appreciate our students for their demonstration of understanding while the unfortunate action lasts,” they said.
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