LAUTECH lecturers embark on strike — second time in one year

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) chapter, has announced the commencement of a strike action.

The industrial action is coming a little over three months after the lecturers called off a strike which lasted for eight months.

Biodun Olaniran, chairman of the ASUU, LAUTECH chapter, and Toyin Abegunrin, secretary, signed a statement to this effect on Friday.

“This is to inform our members that the National Executive Council of our Union has granted the branch the permission to resume the strike action that was earlier suspended in February with immediate effect,” it read.

“Since the feasibility of holding a congress on the campus, for now, is doubtful, it is hereby officially declared that ASUU LAUTECH branch is on strike.

“If in need of any clarification, please contact the branch chairperson.”

The school’s ASUU chapter had in May said that lecturers will no more work unless paid their salary arrears, noting that the governments of Oyo and Osun had failed to meet up with the demands of the union.

The union at the time also warned of an imminent return to strike.

“It has been over two years now that LAUTECH has been thrown into crippling financial crisis due to government’s refusal to meet its funding obligations to the institution,” Olaniran had said.

In February, the lecturers put an end to their industrial action after eight months.

The cessation of the strike came almost a month after the university management announced that academic activities would resume.

But the lecturers refused to budge and return to the lecture rooms until they were ready.