The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso chapter, on Friday insisted that implementation of recommendations of Wole Olanipekun visitation panel remained the only panacea for the lingering crises, which have bedeviled the institution over the years.
ASUU made this declaration in a statement signed by Dr. Biodun Olaniran and Dr. Toyin Abegunrin, Chairman and Secretary, respectively.
The duo in the statement entitled, “Before the bubble bursts”, a copy, which was sent to DAILY POST Saturday morning, said that the only solution to the financial crises, which had grounded the institution is to implement the recommendations of Olanipekun’s panel which “recommended adequate funding for LAUTECH to get the government to perform its responsibility to the university”.
ASUU added that the proposed increment of the tuition fees in the institution to about 300 per cent will have “destructive potentials”.
The union said, “The proposed increase of about 300% in LAUTECH is gathering storm with all imaginable destructive potentials.
“The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) LAUTECH branch, is amazed at the fixated position of the Governing Council, which insisted that the University should remain self-sustaining, rather than impress it on the government about its funding responsibility to the University. It is disturbing that the present council after being in existence for over 14 months has not succeeded in attracting requisite financial attention from the government that put it in place.
“It is becoming increasingly clear that all the promises made by this Council to staff at its inception are mere ploy to tie students/staff hands while their heads are being cruelty shaved through the regime of inclement tuition.
“One would expect that the Council should have seized on the instrument of the Wole Olanipekun’s visitation panel, which recommended adequate funding for LAUTECH to get the government to perform its responsibility to the university.
“We are amazed that the Council has been keeping quiet over this. We are issuing this statement out of our patriot zeal for LAUTECH’s survival.
“The cloud of industrial disharmony is getting thicker by the day; the students are getting restive and increasingly frustrated while the empty bubble of deceit on which the University has been running will soon explode right before the eyes of this Council.
“If this Council has got to its tether’s end, in terms of securing funding for the University from the government that put it in place, it is time to honourably throw in the towel and allow the government to tell the public what it wants to do to LAUTECH.”
