Members of staff of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso are currently protesting non payment of their salaries by the owner states – Osun and Oyo.
Few minutes ago, members of the institution’s chapter of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Educational Institutions, NASU, have locked all major gates leading to the institution, preventing vehicular movement into and out of the campus.
LAUTECH has been embroiled in crisis over payment of salaries by owner states of Oyo and Osun for years and the latest being the exchange of words between Governor Seyi Makinde and Osun state government.
It is understood that the ongoing protest does not affect the examination going on in the institution as only the main gate was locked while all pedestrian routes were open for students and staff involved in the examination.
A lecturer who confirmed the development to OYOINSIGHT.COM, said that examination has been on for four weeks now, “it will end by next Tuesday or so. But the blockage doesn’t stop examinations. Students are allowed to use pedestrian gate to access the campus for exams.”
Only few weeks ago, the LAUTECH chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, had issued a statement threatening to go on another round of industrial actions of their salary arrears are not paid. It had accused Osun of not fulfilling its financial obligation to the university.
Osun, this newspaper recalls, last week denied allegations leveled against it by ASUU, explaining that it has been solely responsible for the finances of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo. The state, represented by the deputy governor, later allegedly asked ASUU to retract the statement.
But ASUU had, in a swift reaction, told Osun that it stood by its earlier statement. It added that Oyo has met its financial obligations to LAUTECH and LAUTECH Teaching, Ogbomoso, asking Osun to also be responsible.
NASU in a message circulated on social media this morning informed its members of the planned protest and its modus operandi. The message explained that “students are to note the pedestrian gate will be opened for students and invigilators to go in and write their Exams. Hence , all students who have Exams this morning should take note of this information as there won’t be room for any make up.”
