ASUU to govt: Show us how you’ll pay N7.1bn LAUTECH debt and we’ll end strike

Lecturers of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso chapter, would only return to work if government states a plan of sustainable funding framework for the institution.

The academic staff union of universities on Monday said that was the only condition for ending the ongoing eight months industrial action at the institution.

Although the management of the institution had on Friday announced the re-opening of the school, ASUU rejected the resumption date, saying it had not called off its strike which began on September 19, 2016.

Biodun Olaniran, chairman of the union, told journalists that the crisis would end if government pragmatically and honestly addresses the demands.

“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.”

“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.

Speaking in the same vein, Ade Adejumo, zonal coordinator, Ibadan zone of ASUU, stated that the union would not go back on its demands until they were met.

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

“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,” he said.