The senate has vowed to bring to an end the crisis
bedeviling the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) that led to
the closure of the institution for almost two years.
Speaking while receiving a delegation led by the president
of LAUTECH Alumni Association, Professor Adewale Sunday, in Abuja, the
President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, described the continuous
closure of the school as “pathetic and unacceptable.”
Saraki, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public
Affairs, Mohammed Isa, reiterated the commitment of the Senate to the quick
resolution of the crisis.
“The Senate is touched by the ongoing 2-year strike at
LAUTECH. Now that we have taken up this issue, we are not going to stop until
action is taken,” Saraki said. “In the past week, I have had the opportunity to
speak to the Minister of Education on the issue, and he has reassured me that
efforts are being made to bring representatives of both governments together to
resolve the ownership affair between the two states.”
He added: “Additionally, we can argue from now until
tomorrow about the ownership of the University, however, all parties concerned
must know that the LAUTECH’s students and their parents are the ones that are
affected by this; hence, swift action must be taken.
“Moving forward, we will continue to fight for the students
of LAUTECH so that soon, the doors of that university will be reopened.”
Saraki, who commended the students for their patience and
peaceful conduct, also urged them to remain calm, as “there is light at the end
of the tunnel. We are on your side.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the Alumni, Professor Sunday, urged
the Federal Government, to as a short term solution provide intervention fund
to the institution for immediate resumption of academic activities.
He further urged the Federal Government to initiate the
process of resolving the ownership tussle of the LAUTECH as permanent solution
to the crisis.
Among the delegation were representatives of the
institution’s Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non-Academic Staff
Union of Universities (NASU) and the Students Union Government (SUG).
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