The old student association of
the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso has
commended the re-opening of the school been shutdown for more than 8
months.
The school was shut after the inability of the two owner-states of Oyo and Osun to pay salary as and when due.
Speaking
on the re-opening, the institution's alumni association has commended
Governors Abiola Ajimobi and Rauf Aregbesola of Oyo and Osun
respectively for the temporary palliative measure in respect of the
N500m grant released.
According
to its press release jointly signed by the national president,
Babajide Bewaji, general secretary, Oloso Kamal Kolawole and the pro,
Owoyokun Samson, it stated that the association was happy that peace and
understanding is gradually returning to the institution.
It however, urged the
institution's chapter of the labour force movements: (Academic Staff
Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigeria
Universities - SSANU, National Association of Academic Technologist -
NAAT and Non Academic Staff of University NASU) to come to terms with
the reality of the economic and financial situations and create an
enabling environment for the restoration of academic activities while
other grievances and agitation are discussed on a round-table with the
school management.
"While we are
grateful for the gesture of the two states, we are appealing to them to
device means by which subvention would be provided continually without
delay. The five hundred million naira released to the institution to pay
two out of the eight months salary arrears should be a point of
commencement.
"The two houses of assembly
should help look into how the budgetary allocation to LAUTECH would be
able to meet its financial obligations by commencing the enactment of a
bill to channel a token in percentage of local governments allocation from the two states to fund the university adequately.
"We
thank all the unions -ASUU, SSANU, NAAT, NASU, parents and guardians
most especially the ever reasonable Ladokites for their perseverance
while the whole issue lasted. The students also should cooperate with
the academic and non academic staff to ensure a hitch-free resumption," the old student said.
