Strike Threat: LAUTECH ASUU Misguided, Misinformed – Osun Govt

 

The threat by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) that it will disrupt academic activities in the institution if The State of Osun ‘refuses to pay their outstanding two months’ salaries,’ is not only misguided but presumptuous, the Osun government has said.

In a statement titled: “ASUU’s position on LAUTECH: Setting the record straight,” signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prince Wole Oyebamiji, the government noted that ASUU’s position on the salary arrears does not truly reflect the position of things, especially with regard to Osun which appears to have been singled out for vilification by the union.

The government further noted that “ordinarily, we should not be seen to be joining issues with ASUU. However, as a responsive and responsible government, we owe the discerning members of the public a duty to set the record straight.

“Previously, Osun and Oyo states who are joint owners of the university had agreed to a template that will see Oyo pay salaries of workers at LAUTECH, Ogbomoso for six months, while Osun carries the burden of paying salaries of workers at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, also for a period six months and vice versa.

“But while Osun kept faith religiously with the above arrangement, Oyo at some point jettisoned it. This explains why from 2013 till date, only Osun has been shouldering the payment of salaries of workers at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, amounting to N16, 604, 510, 806.12.

“Following the visitation panel of 2017 and the reconciliation of accounts that followed, an agreement was reached by the two states to contribute One Billion Naira each, as seed money to the university. The said amount was meant for stabilisation.

“By the arrangement at the time, the university was expected to devise means of funding itself after six months.

“In spite of paucity of fund at the time, Osun contributed its own One Billion Naira. But there was no record anywhere to show Oyo paid the said money.

“It is also important to note here that, long before the current back and forth over payment of salaries, the rotational payment between the two states had collapsed. Therefore, the claim by ASUU that Oyo had paid from January to June 2019, and as such, Osun should pay from July to December this year, does not hold water. The argument will only make meaning if Oyo had been paying salaries of workers at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo,” the government added.

It also revealed that Osun had paid the July and August salaries of workers at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, amounting to N465, 480, 475.31.

The government further said: “Besides, within the same period that ASUU claimed Oyo paid salaries of workers at LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, Osun also paid salaries of workers at LAUTECH, Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.

“For emphasis, below is the analysis of what Oyo contributed: January- N73, 977, 759. 10, February- N73, 977, 759.10, March – N73, 977, 759.10, April – N295, 969, 650.11, May – N295, 969, 650.11 and June – N295, 969, 560.11, whereas Osun, within the same period, had contributed : January -N235, 967, 856.98, February – N239,783,757.04, March -N239, 642, 219.14, April- N239, 007,500.28, May- N235,382,043.73 and June – N235, 251,415.70, to LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo. The state, as earlier stated had gone ahead to contribute another N230, 923,499.67 and N234, 556, 975.64 as July and August salaries respectively, for LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.

“In addition to all that Osun had contributed to LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, it again supported the university in Ogbomoso, with N300, 000,000.00, in July, this year.

“In effect, what this means is that while Osun had cumulatively spent over N2billion on the institution from January to date, Oyo had only spent a little over N1billion.

“From the forgoing, it will therefore be unfair for ASUU to single out Osun as being solely responsible for non payment of salaries at LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, especially because for every kobo Oyo State had contributed in running LAUTECH in the last two years till date, Osun had contributed twice the amount.

“As a government, we are disposed to the amicable resolution of all issues concerning the running of LAUTECH. But we will not allow any individual or group to blackmail us into taking such decision.

“Whatever decision that needs to be taken on the future of the institution must be one that is mutually agreed upon by the two states, “the government declared.

At a Glance:

Oyo, Osun contributions to LAUTECH in the last three years.

See table below what Oyo and Osun paid in 2019:

Oyo Osun

January- 73, 977, 759 235, 967,856.98

February- 73, 977, 759 239, 783,757.04

March – 73, 977, 759 239, 642,219.14

April – 295, 969, 650 239, 007,500.28

May – 295, 969, 650 235, 382,043.73

June – 295, 969, 560 235, 251, 415.70

July- Nil 230, 923, 499.67

(+300, 000, 000.00)

August –Nil 234,556,975.64

See also table for 2017 contributions from both states:

Oyo Osun

January -N250, 000, 000 N250,000,000

March – N42, 000,000 NIL

June 20- N73, 977,759.10 NIL

June 20- N73, 977,759.10 NIL

July -N73, 977, 759.10 NIL

August 2–N73, 977, 759.10 N937, 908,950.33

August 11- N73, 977, 759.10 NIL

September27- N40, 000,000 NIL

September 27 –N16, 000,000 NIL

October –NIL N62, 091,049.67

Remarks: Note that the amount released by Osun in August as shown above, swallowed all the contributions made by Oyo in the entire 2017. In spite of that, Osun went ahead to make another contribution in October of the same year.

See also table for 2018 contributions from both states:
Oyo Osun

March N-73, 977,759.10 NIL

April N -73, 977, 759.10 NIL

October- N73, 977,759.10 NIL

May 10-N73, 977,759.10 NIL

May 30- 73,977,759.10 NIL

July – N73, 977,759.10 NIL

August –N73, 977,759.10 N500, 000,000

Remarks: Again, while Oyo contributed N443, 866, 554.60 in 2018, in seven installments, Osun paid N500, 000, 000 in one installment within the same year. Where has Osun defaulted.