Placing LAUTECH crisis in context

THE plethora of commentaries and armchair analysis on the unfortunate crisis at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) , Ogbomoso, Oyo State, is as interesting as it is unpleasant. The situation, no doubt, presents some sworn critics with the opportunity of showcasing their unwarranted disdain for the workings of the governments of Oyo and Osun, the proprietors of the institution under reference. Inciting statements and related diatribes that are impertinent to the issue at hand are being freely and maliciously employed to disparage Governors Abiola Ajimobi and Rauf Aregbesola of Oyo and Osun States respectively, as visitors to the university. The development has presented elements from otherwise comatose and dead opposition political parties in the two states to yell at and condemn the perceived ineptitude of the proprietors at resolving the imbroglio, which portends serious dangers to the future of the students of the great institution.

It is even more amazing that some of these critics, who once had the opportunity to administer the university directly and indirectly, shouted louder in the unfair condemnation of the owner state governments, instead of burying their heads in shame for largely contributing to the sorry state of the institution by their actions and inactions. I am particularly disappointed with the negative attitude of one of the uninformed commentators who alluded to ethnic colouration and introduced same to the whole harrowing episode. He reasoned that LAUTECH at Ogbomoso is now being deliberately replaced by The Technical University, Ibadan. This sordid dimension is a reflection of how myopic and confusing the thoughts and feelings of some supposedly educated and influential people could be in this kind of situation. Such unfortunate outburst is capable of fanning the embers of ethnic disaffection between the indigenes of Ogbomoso and Ibadan.

The analyst compounded his ignorance of the whole scenario when he made a veiled reference to what he called the deliberate unwillingness of the two owner states to make public an alleged agreement that once ceded the ownership of the University to Oyo State. He further claimed that the agreement was allegedly signed by Ex-Governors Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo and Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun, in a litigation involving the two owner States at the Supreme Court. The said agreement was at the instance of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. I doubt if this person is aware that such a paper that has no ingredient of endorsement in the court registry or Justice Department is not valid and as such inadmissible as an exhibit in the court of law.

The present poor State of LAUTECH is a direct consequence of the alleged gross mismanagement of the university’s resources over the years, from what I found out. The successive administrations of the institution had failed woefully to do the needful in making the institution self sustaining or viably independent. Aside from the fact that the university has an over bloated workforce, some insiders claimed that expenses on imprest, estacodes and other sundry allowances are normally accorded priorities  over statutory payment of the staff salaries and allowances. Keeping and operating 97 bank accounts by the university, some of which are said to have closed shop with the university’s funds therein entrapped, is not healthy for the growth of the University. It amounts to sheer wastage.

It is mind boggling that the university which collects regular subventions from the governments, rakes in school fees from the students (regular and part-time) and research grants from the non-governmental organisations could be run aground. In my own view, the pervasive inadequacies in the university system are part of the reasons why the labour unions were said to have blocked the auditors hired by the governments to carry out forensic audit of the institution from carrying out their duties. One of the findings reveals that the university is still operating manual accounting systems up till now. It is equally worrisome to note that the audit reports on the University’s finances for the years 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively are not ready.

With the discovery of all these inadequacies that have impeded the smooth administration of the of the great institution and which had consequently precipitated the ongoing lingering crisis, I am of the conviction that the destructive critic under reference could not have resorted  to “argurmentun ad hominien”, but for his complete consumption by fires of hatred against Governors Abiola Ajimobi and Rauf Aregbesola respectively. Pretending to be championing or promoting primordial interests, in a feat of a demagogue in this kind of situation, can only be self serving. It is capable of generating unnecessary heat in polity. What moral justification could be alluded to the workers’ action preventing the governments’ forensic auditors from carrying out their duties? They were definitely wrong to have acted dogs in a manger.

It is crystal clear and regrettable too,  that there exists a cabal within  the university workforce that is hell bent on sabotaging the efforts of the owner state governments and well-meaning Nigerians to resolve the crisis once and for all. One can only take solace in the fact that the matter shall soon be amicably resolved once as for all by the University’s Governing Council that has just been constituted. The Council, no doubt, consists of erudite scholars and administrators with proven track records of efficiency in crisis management. It is my candid opinion that the whole blame regarding the pitiable state of the institution cannot be wholly placed at the doorsteps of the owner states, but the university management that created the crisis. So, the critics should take note of this. It is pertinent at this juncture to postulate that forensic auditing and proper screening exercise of the university personnel must be carried out with the objective of moving the university out of the present crisis.

The outcome of the exercises shall avail the owner governments the unique opportunity of taking concrete steps aimed at normalising the situation and make improvements. The university management should embark on austerity measures to conserve funds, viz; suspension of imprest accounts, embargo on paying salaries to staff on sabbatical leave and nominal staff promotion exercise till the university can stand on its own.

• Adebiyi writes in via [email protected]