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Tag: Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH)

  • LAUTECH: ASUU vows not to resume work

    LAUTECH: ASUU vows not to resume work

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU ), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology ( LAUTECH ), Ogbomoso Chapter has vowed not to resume work in the midst of the varsity reopening.

    This was made known in a press release obtained by The Nation, which was signed by the Secretary Dr Toyin Abegunrin which reads “Comrades, we believe that our members are fully informed and clear about the issues that led us into the crisis. None of the issues has been addressed and the Governing Council that promised to get back to us after their meeting with the Union but up till now we haven’t gotten any response from them.

    In the light of the above, our strike is still in full force. The national body of our Union is fully briefed on the state of Things in LAUTECH and is on the same page with us. Let us remain resolute, we shall overcome.
    Dare to struggle, dare to win.

    Speaking with the ASUU chairman Lautech Chapter, Dr Biodun Olaniran, he said “We are not concerned with the reopening of the varsity but as a union we are still on strike. In the Congress we had yesterday we all came to a conclusion that we would not resume any work because our needs are not addressed”.

    “Our demands are; Earned academic allowances,  Pension and gratuity, national health insurance, conditions of service, promotion arrears, budget monitoring committee, payment of salaries and arrears”, he said

    It should be recalled that the institution has been reopened after so many month due to lack of poor funding of the lecturers since December 2013.

  • Government to review LAUTECH tuition fees — Ajimobi

    Government to review LAUTECH tuition fees — Ajimobi

    In a bid to make Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, self-sustaining, government will review tuition fees being paid in the institution, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi, has announced.

    The governor made the announcement  on Saturday in Ibadan, while featuring on a programme tagged “Saturday Special’ aired on the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that LAUTECH is co-owned by both Oyo and Osun state governments.

    The institution had in recent times been enmeshed in crisis over the default of the owners to pay subvention and staff salaries.

    Ajimobi said his administration had since assumption of office in 2011, paid N22 billion to the institution.

    He described the amount being paid as tuition fees in LAUTECH as `abysmal,’ adding that it would be reviewed for the institution to be self-sustaining.

    “The default in the payment of subvention and salaries was as a result of economic downturn. When we came on board, we reduced the tuition fees to N65, 000.

    “There are secondary schools that charges from N150,000 to N200,000, while some universities charge from N500,000 to two million naira.

    “Till date, we have subsidized LAUTECH heavily and we are still giving them.

    “Imagine, the institution has 99 accounts and some could not be traced,’’ he said.

    The governor said that government had taken steps to resolve the crisis in the university, among which was the auditing of its account to determine its viability to be self-sustaining like other institutions.

    He said that staff of the institution had initially refused the auditing firm access but had promised to allow them recently.

    Ajimobi said that government had constituted the institution’s governing council which was expected to submit its report after the current holiday.

    He promised that the crisis in the university would soon be over and the institution would be given take-off grant for three months.

    Commenting on Oyo State Technical University, Ajimobi said that the institution, which would take-off in October, was a specialized institution, adding it was not a university for all.

    He said that his administration had evolved several initiatives to reform education in the state, particularly public schools.

    He added that the efforts had started to yield the desired fruits.

  • Oyo, Osun constitute LAUTECH’s Governing Council

    Oyo, Osun constitute LAUTECH’s Governing Council

    The Oyo and Osun governments have announced the immediate constitution of a seven-man Governing Council for Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH).

    A statement issued on Monday in Ibadan by the Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Mr Olalekan Alli, said the newly constituted council would be headed by a retired Head of Service of the Federation, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi.

    According to the statement, Prof. Lai Olurode, Prof. Olaide Adedokun, Mr Abiodun Owonikoko, Mr Isiaka Olagoke, Mr Tise Adenipekun and Bade Adesina would serve as members of the Governing council.

    “Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and his counterpart form Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola,  acted on the powers conferred on them by the laws establishing the institution as Visitors  met and approved the immediate constitution of the Governing Council of LAUTECH

    “The tenure of the Governing Council  as mandated by the University Law  shall be for four years from the date of its inauguration unless determined by the Visitors.

    “Visitors have also directed the immediate inauguration of the Governing Council  whose mandate shall also be guided by the provisions of the relevant laws establishing the university,”  the statement  said.

    According to the statement,  the Visitors are confident that with this development, the ongoing crisis in the institution will  be resolved soon.

    “They consequently enjoined all stakeholders to cooperate with the newly constituted council in its determination to realise its mandate,” it added.

  • Students to Reps: Transfer LAUTECH to FG

    Students to Reps: Transfer LAUTECH to FG

    Students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho are demanding that Federal Government take over the ownership of the school.

    Students of the school took their pleas to the National Assembly with a protest where they informed the lawmakers that the over nine-month closure of their institution is taking a toll on them and their future by extension.

    The prolonged closure of the school followed an industrial dispute between staff of the institution and the government of Oyo and Osun.

    The leadership of the House of Representatives has however assured them that a coordinated appprach would be employed to actualize the demands of the students.

    The protesting students were addressed by the Leader of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila in company of the House Deputy Minority Leader, Chukwuma Onyema; Akeem Adeyemi; Dapo Lam-Adesina and Olusumbo Olugbemi.

    He said: “When we received your petition to the House, we hurriedly left the chambers to listen to you because we understand your plight.

    “Education is a priority for us in the National Assembly and we will look into this matter but let me bring to your attention that Hon. Segun Odebunmi from Oyo state brought a motion up on the floor of the House and a resolution was passed for the House Committee on Education to look into this matter and come up with recommendations that will guide the House because there are many unintended consequences that can come out of students absence from school.”

    Gbajabiamila said despite the rigorous process involved in transferring the ownership of their institution the House will apply a coordinated approach to resolve the crisis.

    “You are not fatherless or an orphan, you have a government with your interest at heart but there are complications here because we run a constitutional democracy, your institution was established by two state governments and from your request it’s not that easy for the federal government to take over a state-owned institution because we run a democracy but there are ways we can come in  because the welfare of citizens is our primary responsibility and issue of education is shared among the tiers of government.”

    “I apologize on behalf of government because we must all take responsibility, since it’s about funding to improve learning environment we will urge the federal government to work on possible ways to step in”, Gbajabiamila said.

     

  • LAUTECH lecturers suspend strike

    LAUTECH lecturers suspend strike

    Lecturers at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso have suspended their eight months old strike.

    Dr Biodun Olaniran, Chairman, LAUTECH chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), announced the suspension of the strike in a statement on Wednesday in Ogbomoso.

    ASUU said that the strike was suspended following the union’s congress held on Tuesday at the university.

    “After comparing the demands of the union and what the management has met out of the demands, and after extensive deliberations on the struggle so far, the union has resolved to suspend the strike immediately,” Olaniran said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the institution had been shut since the lecturers went on strike eight months ago.

    The union had embarked on the strike over unpaid salaries and allowances, as well as the failure of the owner states of Oyo and Osun to release subventions to the institution.

    LAUTECH Vice Chancellor, Prof. Seleiman Gbadegesin, recently told newsmen that the two owner state governments had paid N584 million out of the N7.6 billion they owed the institution.

    NAN reports that the owner states had in October 2016 set up a visitation panel in their efforts to find a lasting solution to the crisis.

    The panel, headed by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has submitted its report.

  • ASUU lists conditions to resume academic activities in LAUTECH

    ASUU lists conditions to resume academic activities in LAUTECH

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso chapter, on Monday gave its conditions for ending the ongoing industrial action at the institution.

    Dr Biodun Olaniran, the Chairman of the union, told newsmen in Ogbomoso that meeting the conditions would end the crisis.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the management of the institution had announced Friday for re-opening after it had been shut for eight months.

    But ASUU rejected the resumption date, declaring that it had not called off its industrial action which began on Sept. 19, 2016.

    Olaniran stated that while the school had resumed, academic activities were yet to commence  as a result of the ongoing strike.

    He said that the impasse could be resolved  through  transparent commitment, urging government to demonstrate honesty of purpose.

    Olaniran urged the government to clearly state a plan of sustainable funding pattern or framework for the university.

    “Government should provide an agreeable plan of defraying the indebtedness of the outstanding N7.1 billion to the university.

    “They should issue a clear commitment to the settlement of arrears of sundry allowances accumulated over the years,’’ he said.

    The ASUU chairman stated that refusal to pragmatically and honestly address the demands could deepen the crises.

    “Salary is not the real issue. Our major demand borders most on the funding of the institution.

    “Internally Generated Revenue can never be a substitute to the funding of the university,’’ he said.

    Also speaking, Dr Ade Adejumo, the Zonal Coordinator, Ibadan Zone of ASUU, stated that the union would not go back on its demands until they were met.

    Adejumo, who said that the government had  only paid N500 million out of the N7.6 billion outstanding arrears,  added:

    “None of our members is pensionable if he or she is relieved of the job today.

    “We have cried that universities cannot sustain itself on IGR.

    “The development is in the public domain and it will be irresponsible of us if we resume without achieving our demands.’’

    Meanwhile, some students of the institution have appealed to their striking lecturers, the management and owner-governments to resolve the crisis.

    Miss Rukayat Aremo, a 500 level student of Agricultural Science, appealed to the striking lecturers to put  the plight of the students  into consideration.

    Another student, Yahya Samuel, said many of his colleagues had resumed and were ready   to begin academic activities as soon as possible.

    NAN reports that the owner state governments of Oyo and Osun had paid N584 million to offset two months outstanding salaries.

    The two months salaries were said to have been agreed upon by government, management and the various unions.

    The money was paid on Jan. 23 and Jan. 27.

    NAN also reports that some members of staff and students of the institution had resumed  while  academic activities were  yet to commence.

  • 22-year-old emerges LAUTECH overall best student

    22-year-old emerges LAUTECH overall best student

    Miss Saidat Sanni, a 22-year-old student from the Department of Statistics had emerged the overall best student of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso.

     

    Prof. Adeniyi Gbadegesin, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, announced Sanni as the overall best at its 13th Convocation held in Ogbomoso on Friday.

     

    Sanni, who hailed from Abeokuta in Ogun State, emerged after securing a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.88 to overrun Olufemi Ige of the Mathematics department, who secured a CGPA of 4.85 in the 2013/2014 session.

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sanni was the best student in the 2014/2015 session before emerging the best among the 10,317 graduands, which was a combination of 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 academic sets.

     

    In her valedictory speech, Sanni urged other graduands not to relent in the spirit of excellence, integrity and service, which had been their watchword in school.

     

    “We are here, we made it and we did it. Nothing good comes easy.

     

    “More challenges will come our ways, however, with endurance, perseverance, commitment, patience, hard work and steadfastness in prayers, we shall make it,’’ she said.

     

    Speaking on her success, she told NAN that her success was hinged on the vow she made to her parents not to disappoint them.

     

    “My father once called me to look at a story in one of the newspapers, where a lady was celebrated for being the overall best student and I vowed never to disappoint him.

     

    Sanni, the daughter of Mr Bashir and Silifat Sanni, said that her watchword, “I can do well’’ was a driving force, adding that she was always thinking of the positive side.

     

    “We cultivated the habit of reading from home. I initially wanted to study medicine but was admitted to study Mathematics,’’ she said.

     

    Earlier in his speech, Prof. Gbadegesin said it was a thing of joy that the institution was still able to soar by dint of shrewd management to produce the great hope of tomorrow comparable to any standard in the world.

     

    “in spite of the paucity of funding and the challenges of conducting credible research and other social encumbrances bedevilling the university system in general, we are resolved to turn things around for better.

     

    “The university has reached an era of consolidation, using the gains and successes of the past as springboard for projection and advancement into the future, harnessing maximally its capacity,’’ he said.

     

    He commended the Federal Government for its intervention projects through the NEEDS Assessment Intervention funds and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

     

    Similarly, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State said that it was worthy of note that despite the dwindling revenue of the two proprietors of the institution, it was still waxing stronger among its equals.

     

    Ajimobi, who was represented by Mr Soji Eniade, the Oyo State Head of Service, assured the university that the government was not unconcerned about the welfare of staff and the students.

     

    Prof. Wale Omole, the Pro-Chancellor, LAUTECH urged the graduands to make excellence, integrity and service their watchword as they move into the world.

  • Students protest as cultists clash at LAUTECH

    Students protest as cultists clash at LAUTECH

    Five months after the doom effect of the Three MOPOLS loom, on the student community of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, Oyo state, another calamity befell the student community of the institution in just three days of resumption for a new academic session.

    On the 23rd of February, 2016, a bloody cult clash broke out at the Adenike area of the institution which claimed the life of a senior Man ‘O’ War member of the community while others were severely injured following sporadic shootings.

    The student populace of LAUTECH Ogbomosho, that resides at the Adenike Area of the non-residential institution live in fear as the community now turn to be den of cultist where criminal activities are been manifested.

    However, the crisis which started at Adenike area of the university, at quarter past 7 at night started as a simple argument between two cult groups who were identified to be Alora and Aiye confraternity who started attacking each other on the ever-busy street.

    A Man ‘O’ War member known as Issa Olatilewa tried intervening to keep peace unknown to him that they were cultists fighting each other. Together with his two friends Aimashaun Damola student of URP 200L and Oluwagbemiga Adams AERD 400L who were returning from school.

    On the spot, Issa Olatilewa was shot dead by a cultist of the popular (Sealord confraternity) with a pistol gun identified by another student, while Damola Animashaun was shot at the thigh.

    “Actually, I and my friends went to greet one of our bosses, and while coming back around 7.00pm, at a joint at Adenike called skushy joint. We saw some guys harassing a student.

    “As a Man O’ War, we defend students that cannot defend themselves. On the long run, a guy slapped one of my friends, Olatilewa, who is also a Man O War.

    “So, I was like why did you do this to my guy while we are like five then and trying to settle the issue, then the guy brought out a gun; very small and silvery and shot Olatilewa.

    “There was also another guy called Animashahun Damola of URP 200Level, who brought out his own weapon at about 8.00pm and he was going to shoot the guy but the gun was not working.

    “By this time, my friend assumed he could defeat the armed guy, but when he got closer and punched him, the gun exploded immediately and his trousers tore but the bullet did not penetrate.

    “I then tried to help him because he could not walk well again. I was going, Olatilewa could not walk again and very tired on the floor. We were standing opposite LAUTECH security post, and were communicating the security for help with the school van to move him to the hospital but they were busy questioning us and later told us the van was not available.

    “We later got a motorcycle that took us to the junction, then the man at the security post came to help while the guy was losing energy as we are transferring him from one bike to another.

    “It was at this time that the school van joined and helped us to the teaching hospital. In a short time, the SUG President Chief- in- Command LAUTECH Man ‘O’ War arrived and after telling him that one of our men was down, we then returned to arrest the person selling skushy and handed him over to SARS office.

    “We later saw the guys who shot there at myself and friends. Though, it was really dark by then but we could still recognize one of them in the reserve custody and they have confessed that they were the perpetrators,” Adams recounted

    He further noted that he does not know any of the cultists by name or by department.

    Adams then added: “The stands of Man ‘O’ War is to get rid of this people, we cannot cope anymore. This is not their first time, the person that that shot yesterday; this is the third time he will be killing in public”, Adams concluded.

    Following the incidents that led to the death of Olatilewa and others that were injured, all the paramilitary organizations on campus with the Students’ Union, rose up on a protest on Wednesday, hindering academic activities on the university campus.

    Similarly, all the entrances into the university campus were shot, denying the university staffs and other students entrance into the university. This lasted about an hour before the university’s Deputy Vice Chancellor went to plead with the protesters before they agreed to open the gate of the institution.

    The paramilitary organization were then invited for a security brief meeting, where the school’s management assured them that all would be under control as necessary security measures would be put in place soon.