Query LAUTECH authorities over crisis, ASUU tells owner state govts

THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso, has chided positions that the university community hindered the audit exercise by the two owner state governments, asking that the university council and management should actually be queried.

The union said it was not averse to the audit exercise, but that it clamoured that the exercise be done in line with the dictates of the university edict which empowered the governing council to audit the accounts and not the visitors.

Contained in a statement signed by its chairperson, Dr Biodun Olaniran and Secretary, Dr Toyin Abegunrin, the union said queries on multiplicity and redundancy of accounts like discovery of 97 different accounts, extermination of ventures and mismanagement of funds should be directed to the council and management.

Deducting from the Chief Wole Olanipekun panel report advocating the immediate payment of N1.78 billion by the two owner states, the union called for the urgent release of funds to clear some backlog of salaries owed the university’s staff.

According to the union, the release of funds was imperative to end the current industrial crisis and prevent further degeneration of the fortunes of the university.

“While our Union is committed to accountability, the audit exercise must be carried out in line with the dictates of University edict, which empowers only the Governing Council to audit the accounts of the University and not the visitors. However, issues of operation of accounts and management of funds are activities of both management and the Governing Council, who were appointed by the owner states. “

“Therefore, queries on infractions on multiplicity of accounts, redundancy of accounts, extermination of ventures and insinuated mismanagement of funds should be directed to Council and management. If the owner states cannot ask them questions; it is either they are acting in mischief or conniving together to destroy LAUTECH.”

“While the Olanipekun-led Visitation Panel recommended auditing of the University accounts and personnel, it does not specify that the University should be closed down while doing that, rather, it recommended an immediate payment of N 1.78 bn by the owner states.”

“In the Olanipekun’s report, the indebtedness of the states to the University, as at then, were succinctly captured (N 7.15 b), and it was recommended that they pay the debts, so that the University can resume academic work. To our amazement, the recommendation is being jettisoned in favour of the audit exercise,” the union’s statement read.

Meanwhile, the union also called on the Chancellor of the University, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to see to the resolution of the crisis bedevilling the institution.