LAUTECH Workers For Verification

Workers of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, will appear before a verification committee set up by the Governing Council to prove they are employees of the institution.

A source in the council told The Nation that the exercise, which will tomorrow and Friday, was initiated to ensure that funds released by the owners – Osun and Oyo state governments – are judiciously utilised and not spent on ghost workers.

The university’s wage bill is said to be “huge”.

Initially, the workers’ unions, under the Joint Action Committee (JAC), kicked against the move and threatened to down tools.

However, the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Lekan Fadeyi, said the workers were not going on strike and had agreed to appear before the committee with some documents.

“It is not true we want to go on strike.  In fact, a strike is far from our minds right now. We had a congress today (Tuesday) and it was unanimous that members of staff should appear before the committee.  It is a routine thing – nothing special. We were told by the Secretary of JAC what documents we should take to the screening.

“They will check the employment letter and last promotion letter and your I.D. to show that you are a staff and you will get paid immediately.  Nobody is disagreeing on anything,” he said.

Fadeyi added that students were writing their examinations and the institution preparing for the holidays.

“A new session starts in January,” he said.