Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, (LAUTECH) chapter has accused Osun state Governor Rauf Aregbesola over his alleged ‘hypocrisy’ on the prolonged crisis rocking the institution.
In a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan by LAUTECH-ASUU, the chairperson, Dr Biodun Olaniran, frowned at the plea by Aregbesola on the financial crisis facing the institution in the past few years.
According to LAUTECH-ASUU, the governor at a stage, “clearly stated that he is financially incapacitated to fund LAUTECH, only for him to end up talking about auditing as a pre-condition for release of funds.”
The union, specifically, condemned the recent appeal made by governor, urging the striking workers to resume work in the interest of the students, saying, “at what point did he become the champion of LAUTECH students.
“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.” the union said.
ASUU maintained that “to start with, the governor was reported to have made the remark at a reception held in honour of the medical students who had just completed their training in Ukraine, courtesy of Osun State government.
“If the Ukranian government had shown the kind of lackadaisical attitude that he had demonstrated to the funding of LAUTECH, would he have found a University to send those students in Ukraine?
“If it is not bigger than the compass of our mouth to ask, may we request Governor Aregbesola to tell us; at what point did he become the champion of LAUTECH students that he refused to see and address despite efforts made by them to interact with him personally over their plight? The Ila episode where he sent the students away like lepers is a graphic point in case here.”.
” He, through his insincerity to LAUTECH has brought the University to its knees. Gov 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.
“Beyond this, the lecturers are victims of unmitigated deprivations and suffering. Provision of basic survival need for their families have become a taunting mirage. Yet, in the estimate of our dear Governor Aregbesola these are the “devils” playing with the fortune of the students.”
