The Nation Newspaper

Tag: needs

  • ‘NIMASA needs helicopters, patrol boats’

    The Federal Government has been urged to provide new helicopters, modern patrol boats and operational vehicles for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to curb criminality on the waterways.

    Speaking with The Nation, immediate past president of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Prince Olayiwola Shittu said NIMASA needed the equipment for surveillance.

    He called for the enforcement of the laws against sea criminals, saying those arrested should be prosecuted.

    Shittu said lack of prosecution of suspects was a problem.

    He said: “To police the nation’s maritime boundaries requires a lot of platforms in the right places. NIMASA needs brand new helicopters, modern patrol boats, operational vehicles, human capacity and above all, technology that will provide the agency requisite surveillance.

    “With the availability of this equipment, we will begin to see a very high level of compliance by Nigerians, particularly, as it pertains to rules and regulations governing the maritime domain.‘’

    Shittu praised NIMASA Director-General Dakuku Peterside for how the agency has checked illegal activities on the waterways,

  • NNPC GMD: Azikel Refinery’ll address local needs

    NNPC GMD: Azikel Refinery’ll address local needs

    The Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru has commended the managment of Azikel Refinery. He said  the refinery will help tackle perennial fuel scarcity in the country.

    He  lauded the President of Azikel Group, Dr Azibapu Eruani for achieving 65 per cent completion of the phase I, II and III stages, of the project stressing that investors such as Eruani deserve encouragement.

    Represented by Managing Director, Port Harcourt Refining Company, Shehu Malami, the NNPC GMD expressed optimism that the refinery construction would be completed soon to begin onward dispensing of refined petroleum product to the public.

    Azikel Refinery foundation laying was performed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Yenagoa.

    Baru said works on the perimeter fencing, loading gantry, security unit and the administrative building have attained appreciable level of completion while the core refining modules of the ISBL fabricated in Houston, US would be freight on skid and coupled at the refinery site.

    He said the 12,000 barrel per stream day (bpsd) hydro-skimming refinery would produce petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and heavy fuel oil.

    Baru lauded the signing of the certificate of occupancy of the land for Azikel Refinery and Azikel Power Project issued by Governor Seriake Dickson and witnessed by  Obasanjo.

    Baru pledged the suport of NNPC  towards the completion of the project and commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the policy that is improving production domestic refining and ensuring availability in all parts of the country.

    ‘’I am optimistic that the combine effort of the NNPC and output from private refineries would impact positively on capacity and improved production of petroleum product in the country,” Baru said, adding that the refinery will increase local refining capacity.

  • ASUP optimistic of resolving lingering issues with FG in 2018

    ASUP optimistic of resolving lingering issues with FG in 2018

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics ( ASUP ) says it will intensify efforts to ensure that all lingering issues between the union and the Federal Government are resolved in 2018.

    Mr Usman Dutse, ASUP National President, said on Friday in Lagos that the union would build on the successes recorded in 2017.

    Dutse said the issue of the amendment of Polytechnic Act would be brought to the front burner, while the controversy over HND\B. Sc dichotomy would be resolved completely.

    He said the ongoing negotiation between the union and the federal government would be completed as early as possible in 2018 for onward implementation.

    “There are some major things on the front burner in 2017 and we have already reached an agreement and signed a Memorandum of Settlement and Action with the federal government.

    “Some of the things agreed upon, I believe, will be implemented immediately after the festivities. We hope to build on all our achievements in the new year.

    “Our grievances with government include non-implementation of the NEEDS assessment report, non-passage of the Polytechnics Act Amendment Bill, sorry state of state-owned institutions and shortfalls in personnel cost releases.

    Read also: Breaking: ASUP suspends nationwide strike

    “Others are withdrawal of allowances, non release of CONTISS 15 migration arrears, infractions in the appointment of rectors, and continued victimisation of union officers,“ Dutse said.

    On the 2018 budget, the union leader said the allocation to the education sector was grossly inadequate.

    He urged government to consider implementing the 26 per cent UNESCO recommendation to improve the sector.

    “Sincerely, we have said it severally that what the federal government is giving is grossly inadequate and will not bring the desired change.

    “Already, there are complaints of underfunding and the amount allocated is always changing in spite of the increase in the total budget.

    “We doubt the commitment of the federal government to improve education because we cannot do anything without funds.

    “Education, especially technical and vocational education, is capital intensive but what they are allocating is always shrinking and inadequate,’’ he said.

    Dutse added that the budget was not commensurate with the desired change required in the sector.

    “Government should not expect any exceptional performance with the allocation; with the present economy situation, the budget is just a drop in the mighty ocean.

    “Government should show more commitment; they should attach more priority to education and we will achieve the goal and the actual policy on education.

    NAN

  • Don: Nigeria needs fiscal adjustment

    Nigeria urgently requires more fiscal adjustments to improve the economy, a biotechnologist, Prof. Dele Fapohunda, has said.

    He noted that efforts of the government reflected prospects, calling for sustained fiscal efforts to improve economic consolidation and investor sentiment.

    He said: “Some progress has been made on the area of  confidence through  recoveries and prosecutions. Yes there are still areas of improvement, like in any government business.”

    He said the government had taken steps to build ‘macroeconomic stability and fiscal resilience’, which are capable of accelerating economic changes needed for long-term peace and prosperity.

    According to him, what the economy needs are programmes   that will increase better public debt and stronger public finance management.

    He called for increased measures to improve the quality of and access to public services and measures to address governance issues, adding that it would   lead to improving people’s trust in public institutions.

    He observed that there had been an increasing recognition systemic corruption had impact on economic performance.

    Earlier this year, a report by  United Kingdom-based Chatham House concluded that more innovative approaches could be key to tackling the scourge of corruption in Nigeria.

    The think-tank said that while traditional legal and governance-based measures, including public financial management reform and the use of enforcement agencies, are “critically important”. more unconventional, creative measures could be needed in conjunction.

  • Blind athlete needs N5m for heart surgery

    A 34-year-old blind athlete,_ Joshua Adekoya, is currently battling for his life.

    Though blind from childhood, Joshua is currently on admission in the Main Ward of the Lagos State Teaching Hospital LASUTH), for a congestive cardiac failure. As a result, he urgently needs to undergo a heart surgery (cardiac aortic root surgery), to stay alive.

    Hitherto a vibrant young man, full of hope, Adekoya used to be very active in sports and had won a silver medal for Lagos State in the para-athletic event of the National Sports Festival in 2012.

    He has however been in coma since January 20 this year, and placed on oxygen because he has not been responding to drugs. His legs and stomach are swollen as a result of the illness and his wife has even left him to his fate, making his situation more precarious.

    To stay alive and pursue his life goals, Adekoya is requesting help and generous donation from well-meaning Nigerians and foreigners alike. Doctors said the sum of N5m is needed to carry out the surgery. Efforts have been made to reach the Lagos State Government but help has so far not come.

    sDonations can be forwarded to him via a GT Bank account number, 0012757629, opened in his name.He can also be reached on 07036602682 or 08140293592.

  • What Lagos needs

    SIR: At a time “cities of the future”, “sustainable cities,” “resilient cities”, “smart cities”, and “sustainable urbanisation” are the norms, Lagos State is still far from the city of our expectation. In one word, it can be described as a “city-of-the-past” or, at best, “work-in-progress”. Considering the numerous shortcomings of the state, many dislike it, while many, who can afford to, avoid it entirely. A first-time experience of traffic hold-up in Lagos is an experience that cannot be forgotten in a hurry. The traffic challenges affect the movement of goods and services, and industries and people are now moving out of Lagos to a more conducive environment like Ogun and Oyo states. Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry could benefit from these developments, if planned by the state government.

    The occupancy ratio of man to land is too high. This high density is casing unbearable stress to the residents and regular visitors to Lagos. “Societal stress boundary” is being broken daily in Lagos as the population grows with the attendant health implications. Societal stress boundary is the limit of stress a man can experience without falling sick. Lagosians suffer traffic problems, housing quantity and quality inadequacies, lack of electricity, lack of drinkable water, poor health and educational facilities and inadequate roads. The market sites are horrible and most communities need urban renewal. It is understandable when water is scarce in the hinterland; but for a state surrounded by water to lack drinking water, this is not excusable.

    Flooding is an annual event in Lagos due to inadequate and poorly managed drainage, and Lagosians look forward to it every year. Researchers after researchers have highlighted the importance of green areas, parks, fields, gardens and open lands in the life of human beings, especially in reducing settlement density and enhancing the ecosystem. Lagos State lacks parks, gardens, open fields, blue infrastructures, green houses and sustainable buildings. Personal vehicle usage is high with little concern for public transport system. Train, the best form of public transport globally, has poorly organised services in Lagos. By now, people should be riding trains to Ikorodu, Epe and Badadry.

    Pollution is very high due to the high number and poor quality of vehicles on the roads. This high volume of pollution contributes to global warming and climate change. Waste management is a big challenge. In other developed states, wastes are seen as opportunities to create wealth, create employment, source for raw materials for manufacturing of goods and products and generate income. Waste dumps are not conspicuous and do not become eyesores as in Nigerian cities. The waste dump at Ojota is a big menace and pathogen centre that ought to have been discarded. Official waste dump at Abule-Egba, which is being depleted for property development every day, should be eradicated.

    Three official waste dumps at Ojota, Igando and Abule Egba are inadequate for a state generating over 12million tonnes of waste annually. Waste transportation is a major challenge in waste management. Can we have other official waste dumps in Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry? Why is water transportation difficult in Lagos? There is water route from Badagry to Epe, to Ikorodu and to Ebute Metta that can ease the land traffic. Philip Thorn in 2011 did a module for cities development based on “Retreat-Defend-and-Attack” strategy, as a means to adapt to and to mitigate climate change. What he means is that flood risks should make cities “retreat” their coastal borders, then “defend” them by building higher bases (datum), and then “attack” by planning all future buildings not only to be resilient to climate change, but also to contribute as little as possible to it.

    Cities are what the authorities want them to be. They can be active or mundane; effective or commonplace or difficult or user-friendly. Cities are the causes of urbanisation and the authorities must live up to the challenges by always being ahead of development. They must plan and review the blue prints of cities regularly until it becomes working city. Could planners in Lagos State draw inspiration from Cape Town, Dubai, Durban, London or New York with a density of over 300 people per square metre? If not, they should, at least, find solutions to some of the numerous problems of Lagos.

    What Lagos needs now are: widening of the major roads and separating the traffic at strategic junctions so that transiting from Ajegunle (a border town with Sango-Ota in Ogun State) and Ojodu (another border town towards Lagos-Ibadan Expressway) to Victoria Island and Ikoyi will take less than one hour; construction of social housing on the Island so that the average man can live close to his or her workplace and completion of the light rail project being constructed from Abule Ado through Mile 2 to Iganmu. Lagos State also needs improved supply of electricity and potable water.

     

    • Olufemi . A. Oyedele,

    Lagos 

  • ‘People don’t attend churches that cannot meet needs’

    ‘People don’t attend churches that cannot meet needs’

    Founder of Laughter Foundation International Ministries, otherwise known as babies’ factory, Pastor Gbenga Oso, spoke with Sunday Oguntola on the uniqueness of the church on the eve of its 20th anniversary. Excerpts:  

    There are people who believe the church should have been a ministry. What would be your reaction to them?

    For me, I don’t see any difference between ministry and church. Either church or ministry, there is only one goal – that people should go to the kingdom of God.

    And secondly, we meet the physical needs of people. That was what Jesus did when He was here. There were three basic things He did when He was here. He would preach, heal the sick and do deliverance. Then, there were times he fed people with physical foods.

    So, Jesus was meeting the spiritual and physical needs of people, which is what a church or ministry is expected to do. If they are sick, they must be healed and live healthy lives. If they don’t have children, they must have children. That is what church or ministry exists to do.

    But there is the argument that need-oriented ministries and churches tend to raise people to use, rather than love God. What do you say to this?

    A Church or ministry is expected to meet the spiritual and physical needs of people. Doing one without the other means you won’t see people in the church.

    The major thing that draws people to God is meeting their physical needs. When you see churches and ministries with population today, it is because they are meeting the physical needs of people. People don’t go to church mostly because they want to hear the word of God or love God. They are going because they have a challenge, which they believe can be addressed in such a church or ministry.

    But after you have baited in people, what do you do with them?

    In this church, apart from the fact that the main focus is for people to have children, I always say it is not the major emphasis. The major emphasis is to make the kingdom of God and go to heaven because there is life after here.

    If someone has all the children and go to hell, it is just a waste of efforts on the part of the pastor and waste of life with the person involved. So, we tell people here that they must serve God, shun ungodliness and love people.

    After then, they must have the good things of life. They must have children and have money to take care of them. So, the two are combined. But preaching to people without meeting their needs is not what Jesus sent us to do.

    He didn’t do that. He would first of us preach to them and meet their physical needs. And that is what we are doing.

    Those with specialised ministries or churches like this impose consultation fees or ask people to do something before sharing testimonies. Is that what obtains here?

    That kind of thing is not found in the Bible. It is not part of what we do here at all. During the times of Jesus, he didn’t take money from anybody for consultation or something. We don’t ask people to do that either. People see me when they have to see me; of course they are procedures because of security and all that.

    When they have testimonies, we just ask them to write everything in a sheet of paper. We look through and take the ones we consider major. Most times, we always don’t know what they want to say and we never ask them to sow anything.

    There are people that do things and there are people that don’t do. What they do depends on what they have. But we have never asked them to do anything or bring anything at all. It is not part of our culture here.

    At 20, why is the church not involved in any relationship with Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) or Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN)? Is that deliberate or you have anything against the bodies?

    No, we don’t have anything against them. We are a member of CAN, though not registered and all that. If there is a need to do that, we will do. Their officials come here and all that. If there are procedures to follow to register….

    … They haven’t told you or you didn’t ask?

    Well, they haven’t told me but if I feel the need to do that, we will do it. But if PFN or CAN is doing anything, we will support from here. It is not compulsory all of us register. It is not compulsory, but if there is a reason to register, we will do that. We believe we are a member of the body of Christ in this nation. And if we have to register, we will do that. If anything is needed, we are part of it.

    You also don’t invite ministers from outside the church. Is that also deliberate?

    That is because this is a highly specialised ministry. We have what we are aiming at; basically praying for people that want children and all that. It is a specialised ministry and God has to have prepared you to be able to do it.

    Besides, we have people we have trained in-house to handle our ministrations over the years. So, we don’t really need ministers from outside here.

    And you don’t honour invitations from other churches too?

    I do but not always most of the time. I just like to face the thing God asked me to do. My joy is to see people that come here receive their breakthrough and all that.

    Once in a while, I go to other places but not many times.

    Does that mean those who already have children have no place in this church?

    They do because the kingdom of God is the basic here. But we have some other programmes in the church, though not the basic. Childbearing is the basic. We know that if members have children and no money to take care of them, they will suffer.

    So, first Sunday of every month, after service, we hold a service for like 30 minutes to pray for their careers and businesses. We call it the billionaires’ service. If they don’t become billionaires, they will become multi-millionaires.

    We also pray for singles to get married because there are many of them eligible but it is not happening for them. Whether we like it or not, there are reasons beyond them responsible for this.

    We also have a prayer service for pregnant women. Women must carry pregnancies for 40 weeks and many of them lose their pregnancies. But we don’t have that here because we pray for them and encourage them to go to good hospitals.

  • ‘People don’t attend churches that cannot meet needs’

    ‘People don’t attend churches that cannot meet needs’

    Founder of Laughter Foundation International Ministries, otherwise known as babies’ factory, Pastor Gbenga Oso, spoke with Sunday Oguntola on the uniqueness of the church on the eve of its 20th anniversary. Excerpts: 

    There are people who believe the church should have been a ministry. What would be your reaction to them?

    For me, I don’t see any difference between ministry and church. Either church or ministry, there is only one goal – that people should go to the kingdom of God.

    And secondly, we meet the physical needs of people. That was what Jesus did when He was here. There were three basic things He did when He was here. He would preach, heal the sick and do deliverance. Then, there were times he fed people with physical foods.

    So, Jesus was meeting the spiritual and physical needs of people, which is what a church or ministry is expected to do. If they are sick, they must be healed and live healthy lives. If they don’t have children, they must have children. That is what church or ministry exists to do.

    But there is the argument that need-oriented ministries and churches tend to raise people to use, rather than love God. What do you say to this?

    A Church or ministry is expected to meet the spiritual and physical needs of people. Doing one without the other means you won’t see people in the church.

    The major thing that draws people to God is meeting their physical needs. When you see churches and ministries with population today, it is because they are meeting the physical needs of people. People don’t go to church mostly because they want to hear the word of God or love God. They are going because they have a challenge, which they believe can be addressed in such a church or ministry.

    But after you have baited in people, what do you do with them?

    In this church, apart from the fact that the main focus is for people to have children, I always say it is not the major emphasis. The major emphasis is to make the kingdom of God and go to heaven because there is life after here.

    If someone has all the children and goes to hell, it is just a waste of efforts on the part of the pastor and waste of life with the person involved. So, we tell people here that they must serve God, shun ungodliness and love people.

    After then, they must have the good things of life. They must have children and have money to take care of them. So, the two are combined. But preaching to people without meeting their needs is not what Jesus sent us to do.

    He didn’t do that. He will first of us preach to them and meet their physical needs. And that is what we are doing.

    Those with specialised ministries or churches like this impose consultation fees or ask people to do something before sharing testimonies. Is that what obtains here?

    That kind of thing is not found in the bible. It is not part of what we do here at all. During the times of Jesus, he didn’t take money from anybody for consultation or something. We don’t ask people to do that either. People see me when they have to see me; of course, there are procedures because of security and all that.

    When they have testimonies, we just ask them to write everything in a sheet of paper. We look through and take the ones we consider major. Most times, we always don’t know what they want to say and we never ask them to sow anything.

    There are people that do things and there are people that don’t do. What they do depends on what they have. But we have never asked them to do anything or bring anything at all. It is not part of our culture here.

    At 20, why is the church not involved in any relationship with Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) or Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN)? Is that deliberate or you have something against the bodies?

    No, we don’t have anything against them. We are a member of CAN, though not registered and all that. If there is a need to do that, we will do. Their officials come here and all that. If there are procedures to follow to register….

    … They haven’t told you or you didn’t ask?

    Well, they haven’t told me but if I feel the need to do that, we will do it. But if PFN or CAN is doing anything, we will support from here. It is not compulsory all of us register. It is not compulsory, but if there is a reason to register, we will do that. We believe we are a member of the body of Christ in this nation. And if we have to register, we will do that. If anything is needed, we are part of it.

    You also don’t invite ministers from outside the church. Is that also deliberate?

    That is because this is a highly specialised ministry. We have what we are aiming at; basically praying for people that want children and all that. It is a specialised ministry and God has to have prepared you to be able to do it.

    Besides, we have people we have trained in-house to handle our ministrations over the years. So, we don’t really need ministers from outside here.

    And you don’t honour invitations from other churches too?

    I do, but not always most of the time. I just like to face the thing God asked me to do. My joy is to see people that come here receive their breakthrough and all that.

    Once in a while, I go to other places but not many times.

    Does that mean those who already have children have no place in this church?

    They do, because the kingdom of God is the basic here. But we have some other programmes in the church, though not the basic. Childbearing is the basic. We know that if members have children and no money to take care of them, they will suffer.

    So, first Sunday of every month, after service, we hold a service for like 30 minutes to pray for their careers and businesses. We call it the billionaires’ service. If they don’t become billionaires, they will become multi-millionaires.

    We also pray for singles to get married because they are many of them eligible but it is not happening for them. Whether we like it or not, there are reasons beyond them responsible for this.

    We also have a prayer service for pregnant women. Women must carry pregnancies for 40 weeks and many of them lose their pregnancies. But we don’t have that here because we pray for them and encourage them to go to good hospitals.

     

  • ‘Food answers all health needs’

    ‘Food answers all health needs’

    One is inclined to take a pill when sick, but healthcare givers say good food holds the key to a healthy life, OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA writes.

    Everything is not about drugs.But people are inclined to first look for drugs whenever they feel that something is wrong with them. Most times, they feel  that they must take a pill to get better if they experience a cold, headache, or any other symptoms.

    But, healthcare givers believe that good food holds the key to a healthy life.

    According to a Naturopath, Dr Adebisi Lambo of LamboDebs Nature Clinic, Ojota, Lagos, most health problems can be treated or prevented by a healthy diet. “Only most of the time, we find out after we get sick. The fact is your body is a machine. It needs high quality food, sleep and exercise. That’s it,” said the doctor.

    He said food is any material that provides living things with the nutrients they need for energy and growth. He said the food we eat has two sources- Synthetic based foods like dairy foods and beverages and plant based foods. Plants have always been used medicinally throughout history and in diverse cultures. In Europe and Asia for example, citizens grow herbs for food and medicinal purposes, knowing well that the secret of good health and long life lies in what goes into the mouth.

    “Years back they packaged herbs into potent natural medicines like juice, body cream from pawpaw seeds, bitters, teas and many more. Today, they are probably the largest exporter of natural drugs and foods in the world. I need to let people know that one can hardly treat a disease without reference to food intake. Food is the most natural medicine one can find. One hardly treats a disease without reference to food intake. The food we take consists of six classes- the carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water. These foods are necessary for the survival of any mortal. However, to have good health, we need to maintain a balance of these foods in our diets,” said Dr Lambo.

    He added that  food is a much cheaper form of medicine and readily available,therefore, people should learn how to eat healthily. “Majority of diseases and Health issues can be cured, managed or even be prevented by the right diet. You don’t hear your doctors tell you most of the health problems that you have can be treated or prevented by a healthy diet. Only most of the time, we find out after we get sick. The fact is that your body is a machine. It needs high quality food, sleep and exercise. And human body is meant to be cured naturally.”

    He said: “Humans have lived on this earth for several years. For the majority time on this earth, humans have relied on what Mother Nature provided for them. The fact is, humans, just like any other insect or animal, thrive on fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc. No human made product will ever replace that. So when problems with health arise, your body is meant to be cured naturally as well. This is why unlike nature-made food, every single drug that is made, contains side effects. I remember when we were young doing our work on farm. We sometimes sustain wounds from our farm implements. To stop the bleeding from these wounds, we usually apply sand on them. I doubt if anyone will attempt such in today’s world without taking anti tetanus drug or injection. At that time, the immune system in us was able to defend our bodies and prevent it from attack especially from tetanus. This is nothing but a result of what we ate then which are plants based foods.”

    He explained that today, immune system in some people have drastically reduced and consequently cannot withstand the ‘foreigners’ coming into the body to fight it. For instance, Dr Lambo said, “What could make an 18-year-old boy complain of polyurea (constant urination), a sign of diabetes or a spinster who was diagnosed of having multiple fibroid. One can also observe today that many students cannot calculate without using calculator or refer to the internet. These and more of what people suffer today are as a result of what enters into their mouths. Some of which are inimical to their health.”

    In the same vein, Dr Lambo said due to memory loss today, one often sees some people, elderly and young ramming into people as they walk on the street. Some elders will climb a staircase or enter a room to get something only to forget what they wanted on getting to the top of the staircase.

    The Naturopath said treatment of any disease should start with food combination, according to the type and severity of the disease. “For instance, in treating diabetes, use small quantity of ugwu leaves, beans, carrots, boiled unripe plantain or its flour (elubo kelukelu) with vegetable enriched with locust beans. One can add cucumber or water melon which can be taken as lunch regularly.

    “Spinach is also recommended for memory loss because the intake of it improves the memory of individuals. The phyo-chemical contents in spinach reduce inflammation that causes harm to the brain function. But it must be taken according to prescription by a naturopath, or holistic/natural health care practitioner. So also to treat high blood pressure, eating one or two Garcinia kola (orogbo) otherwise called bitter kola with Abamoda leaves (Bryphyllum thonumigii) three hours before breakfast for 30 days is good. It is also recommended for boosting of immune system.

    Dr Lambo appealed to people not to self diagnose. “If you have a symptom please consult a qualified doctor of medicine (D.M)/natural health care practitioner. Preferably a naturopath, holistic M.D or a chiropractor,” said Dr Lambo.

  • LAUTECH crisis, a sore thumb – Activists

    A group of human rights activists, Movement for Peace and Development, has warned that the debilitating situation in the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, is a simmering volcano which could in future have an even more devastating effect than a bomb blast, if not sincerely addressed.
    At a media briefing on Friday in Oyo town, Chairman of the group, Comrade Ayekale Olorunyomi, described the institution’s crisis as a “sore thumb sticking out as evidence of our collective shame and hypocritical claim to reform education, governance and the very future of Nigeria by past administrations, which we all profess to love so much.”
    According to him, in view of the fact that LAUTECH was adjudged one of the very best Nigerian universities, its current condition is best described as tragic.

    “One would really need to be heartless not to feel sorry for the poor students who always get the bad end of the stick and whose lives are being mortgaged in installments by the incessant problems bedeviling this hitherto to promising university.

    “One wonders how it is ever so impossible for us in Nigeria to set up and preserve anything of value without allowing ego and personal interest to run the deal.”

    Olorunyomi appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, the institution’s Chancellor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the two state governors of Oyo and Osun States, as well as the unions to see the current state of LAUTECH as a source of state and national embarrassments, hence the need to proffer urgent solution to the impasse.

    He said, “all such situations in the country deserve urgent attention before our youths are completely drained of every sense of patriotism and national pride. It is immoral and irresponsible for our leaders to invest so much resources and energy in political campaigns and horse trading all over the nation, while our institutions like LAUTECH is left to rot because of non – payment of staff salaries.”

    The Academic Staff Union of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology [LAUTECH], Ogbomoso, are currently on indefinite strike over harsh working environment.

    The institution, according to ASUU Chairman, Dr. Bodunrin Olaniran, is fast losing its seasoned academics due to what the academics referred to as “in conducive and harsh working environment”.

    So far, about six academic staff was reported to have left and without replacement and both the academic and non-academic staff are yet to receive their three months salaries.
    Since 2008, it was reliably gathered that there had been no grants for capital projects, as all on-going physical structures on campus were either NEEDS assessment or TETFUND, thus making it difficult to believe that the varsity is jointly owned by two states’ governments.

    Similarly, all internally generated revenues were being exhausted to augment payment of staff salaries while a sum of N 296 million was being  released monthly for the payment salaries, additional fund of about N84 million was being sourced for by the university management to a wage bill of between N360million and N380 million.

    This salary augmentation is adversely affecting promotion arrears, earned academic allowances, pensions and gratuity, office and laboratory facilities.
    Also, for the pat twenty-one months, no subvention has been made available to the institution, as Osun State owes eleven months, while Oyo State owes seven months.

    It was further learnt the university last received grants for research and development in 2010, as lecturers spend their personal money to carry out researches.

    The university’s Public Relations Officer, Lekan Fadeyi, said both the management and owner state governments are working round the clock to address the challenges.