Students drawn from various faculties of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, on Thursday, stormed the National Assembly, demanding that the federal government should takeover the funding and administration of the institution.
The students also decried the prolonged industrial action, which had kept them in one level for almost 2 years.
DAILY POST recalls that, LAUTECH was established in 1990 under the old Oyo state. One year later, the state of Osun was created and, with Ogbomosho carved into the present Osun state, the institution has been at the mercies of both states.
“It is pertinent, we also bring to your notice Sir, that Osun state had, had a separate state university, just as Oyo state recently commissioned hers, leaving LAUTECH in more dilemma,” one of the protesters told this reporter.
Consequently, the institution has been entangled with frequent strike actions, which is prominently anchored on poor funding.
President of the Students Union Government (SUG) of the institution, Comrade Bakare Solace Olateinde, while addressing the press, said, leaving the school in the hands of Osun or Oyo state would practically spell doom for the students.
He said, non-payment of salaries, allowances and arrears accounted to the incessant industrial actions which has made students to outgrow their age, in their academic pursuit.
“The 500 level and other students in junior levels have remained in the same level since 2015”, Olateinde said.
Speaking further, the SUG President said, “our alumni always recount their experiences to us as they are always being faced with genuine shock and barefaced humbling, that despite their good results and the standard of the institution from which they had graduated from, they are always being met with rejection at the labour market, due to age factor, which was solemnly due to time wastage and delay before completion of their academic education.”
“We hereby, passionately appeal to the federal government to consider our appeal to save the lives and future of over thirty five thousand (35,000) students of this citadel of learning, ” he submitted.
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