The management of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, has invited the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian University, as well as other workers’ unions in the university to a meeting to discuss the way forward.
There is an indication that the planned meeting is intended to address some issues, including unpaid salary arrears of 11 months, which forced all the unions to embark on an indefinite strike at different times.
The meeting was called just as the ASUU, SSANU, the Non Academic Staff Union and the National Association of Academic Technologists refused to resume on Monday despite the directive given by the management on resumption.
The Registrar of the university, Jacob Agboola, said in the letter written to the ASUU and the Joint Action Committee, which comprises the three other unions, that issues relating to the reopening of the university would be discussed at the meeting.
A copy of the letter sighted by our correspondent reads, “The Vice Chancellor, Professor .A. S Gbadegesin, has directed me to invite you to a meeting with the management committee fixed for Monday, September 18.
“The meeting will discuss issues related to the reopening of the university as contained in a recent circular. The slight delay in releasing the circular was inadvertent as it was occasioned by the pressure of work.”
The ASUU chairman in the university, Dr. Biodun Olaniran, confirmed the meeting to our correspondent on the telephone on Monday.
An executive of SSANU, who pleaded anonymity, also confirmed to our correspondent that JAC was also invited to a superset meeting by the management on Monday.
Olaniran said lecturers did not resume on Monday despite the announcement by the management because ASUU was not carried along and the issues which forced them to embark on the indefinite strike had not been addressed.
He said lecturers were owed 11 months aside from other issues which compelled them to embark on an industrial action.
