Aregbesola, Ajimobi appeal for calm over LAUTECH

Governors Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State have appealed to the striking workers of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, to remain calm while the two owner states find solution to their problems.

Workers of the institution have been on prolonged strike for about seven months over unpaid salaries.

The two governors in a joint statement in Osogbo yesterday said the development was deeply regretted.

Academic activities have been put on hold as a result of the industrial action embarked upon by the academic and non-academic staff of the university.

This is due to the challenges faced by the owner states in fulfilling salary obligations to categories of workers in the institution.

But the governors in the statement declared that “this is not due to lack of will on their part but the dire financial headwinds in the country, affecting all tiers of government, putting strain in paying salaries of workers in the two states, including the university.

The statement read in part: “It is important to state that the Governments of Oyo and Osun have reaffirmed their commitment to the joint ownership of the institution, including its continued funding and comprehensive review of its finances.

“It was in this regard that a Visitation Panel headed by Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, was set up in October last year. While waiting for the report of that panel, we want to appeal to students, parents and guardians to resist the temptation to result to self-help and or any action that might precipitate disruption of law and order.

“With the steps already taken by the two owner governments, we are confident that the unfortunate situation in the institution will soon be resolved”, the statement added.