ASUU LAUTECH chides Aregbesola’s appeal for lecturers to resume

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, has chided the appeal by Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state that the striking lecturers resume work.

The union released a statement, signed by its Chairman, Dr Biodun Olaniran and Secretary, Dr Toyin Abegunrin, termed Aregesola’s appeal without attending to 11 months’ salary arrears and unsustainable funding as hypocritical.

Read also: Suspend strike in interest of students, Aregbesola to LAUTECH lecturers

LAUTECH lecturers, in the statement, wondered what more sacrifice it had to make having continued work despite irregular salaries since December 2013.

Furthermore, the union argued that both students and lecturers alike bore the consequences of the protracted crisis in “unmitigated deprivations and suffering”.

The statement read, in parts, “Our Union is bemused at the comical appeal by the Osun State’s Governor to lecturers in LAUTECH to resume work in the interest of the students. Both the statement and the occasion of its utterance are, to say the least, reflective of deep disdain that the governor has for the mass of suffering workers and their children.”

“To ask LAUTECH workers to go back to work without addressing the issue of eleven-months’ salary arrears and the vexed question of sustainable funding unattended to, is the peak of insensitivity and hypocritical joke taken too far.”

“May we also ask our Governor, who is asking for sacrifice on the part of LAUTECH workers what further sacrifice does he demand from hapless workers who have remained on their duty posts since December 2013 when salaries had been epileptic, principally due to his total withholding of salary subvention to the University. He, through his insincerity to LAUTECH has brought the University to its knees.”

“Mr Aregbesola should allow the fear of God to weigh with him before casting aspersions on academics in LAUTECH. These members of staff are already victims of double jeopardy; many of the lecturers are parents of LAUTECH students that are equally affected by this needless and unfortunate crisis.”