Compel Governing Council, VC to Pay 7-Year Earned Academic Allowances Arrears, Prevent Avoidable Crisis — LAUTECH ASUU Tells Makinde

The Academic Staff Union of University, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Chapter, on Thursday urged Governor ‘Seyi Makinde to impress it on the Vice Chancellor, Professor Mojeed Olaide Liasu and the Chairman Governing Council, Professor Deji Omole, to pay seven years of arrears of earned academic allowances (EAA), owed academic staff of the institution.

In a release jointly signed by the Chairman, Prof. Biodun Olaniran and the Secretary, Prof. Toyin Abegunrin entitled, “LAUTECH Administration: A Slave Driver”, the union leaders put the amount being owed them at over five billion naira.

It also blamed the leadership of the university of denying academics their due promotion arrears, which is capable of dampening their morale

The ASUU leaders said their members have lost confidence in the university administration led by the acting Vice-c
Chancellor and the Deji Omole-led Governing Council, to pursue their welfare.

It therefore urged the governor to immediately intervene before the situation degenerates into further crisis in LAUTECH saying; “It is rather unfortunate that the 2016 and 2017 avoidable crisis started because the then administration refused to address arrears of EAA. Apparently not learning from history, the present university administration and council are now towing the same path.”

The statement continued: “Our union cooperated with the administration to realise the debt from students with the understanding that our EAA and promotion arrears will be settled, knowing full well that at least one third of it could be paid. However, as against our understanding, the university administration went ahead to appropriate the realised money on acclaimed capital projects and none of the two arrears was attended to.”

While calling on the governor to wade in on time, the ASUU leaders said, “We therefore call on the Visitor, His Excellency Governor ‘Seyi Makinde, that we have lost confidence in the university administration led by acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof M.O Liasu and Professor Ayodeji Omole-led Governing Council to address our welfare matters. In this regards, to avoid repeat of such avoidable scenario, he should intervene now.”