Academic staff at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, yesterday declared a total and indefinite strike.
The declaration which was made at a well-attended congress of the union held at the main campus of the institution was also attended by the chairman of the University of Ibadan chapter of the union, Dr. Deji Omole and that of the University of Lagos, Dr. Laja Oduja.
Chairman of ASUU in the university, Dr. Abiodun Olaniran, said the strike followed the endorsement of the National Executive Council of ASUU which gave its approval to press home the reversal of several hardship facing workers of the institution.
It will be recalled that before now, non-academic unions in the university had been on strike for close to three months.
According to Olaniran, the demands of the union include a review of conditions of service for academic staff, retirement plans, including pension which is presently non-existent, payment of five months salaries, as well as academic earned allowances.
He insisted that the strike would not be suspended until the 23 months subvention owed the institution is fully paid by the two owner states of Oyo and Osun.While Oyo owes eight months, Osun State owes 15 months unpaid subvention.
He maintained that members of the union are Nigerians whose livelihoods are threatened by the current economic downturn, urging the two owner states to live up to their constitutional responsibilities.
Olaniran who wondered why it has been so difficult for Governors Abiola Ajimobi and Rauf Aregbesola to rescue education through appropriate funding, warned of dire consequences on the lives of academic staff, students and the host communities.
He said: “This strike is inevitable but the present state of affairs in the institution was created by chronic underfunding for which neither Oyo nor Osun state could be exonerated. It is painful we have to go this way. We are human beings and must be treated as such.”
Source: National Mirror
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