LAUTECH ASUU warns of strike over unpaid entitlements, delayed agreement implementation

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) branch, has warned that delays in fully implementing the December 2025 Federal Government–ASUU agreement and settling outstanding staff entitlements could lead to industrial action.

The union urged the Oyo State Government to provide adequate funding and intervene urgently to prevent a disruption of academic activities at the university in Ogbomoso.

In a statement jointly signed by its Chairperson, Prof. Olujimi Dada, and Secretary, Dr. ‘Soji Arinola, the union said its members were still awaiting the balance of their Earned Academic Allowance and promotion arrears, with some outstanding payments dating back several years.

It said the demand followed prolonged engagement, repeated appeals and efforts at national, zonal and branch levels to resolve the issues through dialogue.

“Let it be clearly stated: ASUU LAUTECH does not desire industrial action. Our preferred option remains dialogue, negotiation and mutually acceptable resolution.

“However, dialogue must produce results. Repeated appeals without implementation cannot constitute a permanent industrial-relations strategy,” the union stated.

According to ASUU, provisions of the agreement requiring domestication at LAUTECH had been processed and approved by the university’s Governing Council, while the Visitor to the institution had been informed.

“Therefore, the issue before us is not whether an agreement exists. The issue is the full implementation of an agreement whose financial and institutional implications have already been communicated to the appropriate authorities,” it said.

The union maintained that the state government had requested the financial implications of implementation and that the affected tertiary institutions had submitted the required details.

It argued that the delay could no longer reasonably be attributed to a lack of information, stressing that what was required was a clear decision, adequate funding and commencement of full implementation.

ASUU said it had pursued formal and informal avenues to secure an audience with the state government over the agreement and outstanding entitlements, expressing concern that public pressure and the threat of industrial action by another tertiary institution had been needed to draw attention to the issues.

On the accumulated arrears, the union said: “These are not gifts or discretionary rewards. They are entitlements arising from work already performed and obligations that have accumulated over time.”

It said LAUTECH workers had continued to teach, supervise students, conduct research, publish and sustain the academic calendar despite funding constraints, inadequate facilities and unpaid entitlements.

“The reputation of LAUTECH is therefore not built by buildings and policies alone; it is built daily by the people who teach, research, supervise, administer and serve the university,” it stated.

The union argued that the dispute went beyond lecturers’ salaries, warning that inadequate and unpredictable funding threatened quality teaching, research, accreditation standards and the institution’s competitiveness.

It urged the state government to commence full implementation of the agreement and direct the Governing Council to establish a sustainable framework for addressing funding and staff welfare challenges.

ASUU also appealed to traditional rulers, religious bodies, alumni, students, parents, professional associations and civil society organisations to support its demand for urgent intervention.

“We respectfully appeal to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, to intervene personally and urgently in the matter. We believe that the Oyo State Government has both the capacity and responsibility to prevent an avoidable disruption of academic activities,” it said.

Reaffirming its commitment to a peaceful resolution, the union declared: “We seek dialogue, not confrontation. We seek implementation, not promises. We seek sustainable funding, not temporary relief. We seek industrial harmony, not industrial action.”

The post LAUTECH ASUU warns of strike over unpaid entitlements, delayed agreement implementation appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.