The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso Branch, has warned that continued failure by the Oyo State Government to fully implement the December 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement and settle outstanding staff entitlements could trigger industrial action at the university.
The union, while stressing that it does not desire confrontation, said it had exhausted various avenues of dialogue and engagement with the relevant authorities over the issues.
In a statement signed by its Chairperson, Prof. Olujimi Dada, and Secretary, Dr ‘Soji Arinola, the union said the dispute was not about the existence of the December 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement but its full implementation at LAUTECH.
According to the union, the agreement was signed in December 2025 after years of negotiations between the Federal Government and ASUU, adding that provisions requiring domestication at LAUTECH had been processed and approved by the university’s Governing Council.
It said the matter had also been brought to the attention of the Visitor to the university.
“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,” the union stated.
ASUU LAUTECH said it had made several attempts to secure an audience with the Oyo State Government to discuss the implementation of the agreement as well as the payment of other outstanding entitlements owed its members.
These, it said, included Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) and arrears arising from promotions.
The union said it had consistently pursued both formal and informal channels because it believed dialogue remained the most responsible way of resolving industrial disputes in a university environment.
It, however, expressed concern that the issues had only received greater governmental attention following public pressure and the threat of industrial action by another tertiary institution in the state.
ASUU said such a situation was not consistent with the standard of engagement expected in Oyo State, which it described as the “Pacesetter State.”
The union further disclosed that the Oyo State Government had requested the financial implications required for the implementation of the agreement and that the affected tertiary institutions had submitted the requested details.
It argued that the current situation could therefore not reasonably be attributed to a lack of information about the financial implications.
“What is now urgently required is a clear decision, adequate funding and commencement of full implementation without any further delay,” the union said.
ASUU LAUTECH said the agitation should also be viewed against the contributions of the university’s workers to the development and reputation of Oyo State.
It said that despite funding constraints, outstanding entitlements, inadequate teaching and research facilities and other institutional challenges, academic and non-academic workers had continued to teach, supervise students, conduct research, publish and sustain the academic calendar.
The union noted that LAUTECH had continued to attract national recognition, including being recognised as the Best State University in Nigeria and Best University of Technology in Nigeria.
It attributed such achievements to the commitment and sacrifice of workers, arguing that the university’s reputation was not built by infrastructure and government policies alone but also by those who teach, research, supervise, administer and serve the institution.
The union said it was difficult to reconcile the expectation of maintaining a world-class university with a funding arrangement it considered inadequate to sustain the institution at the desired level.
The union also stressed that the December 2025 agreement was not the only outstanding issue affecting academic staff.
According to ASUU LAUTECH, members are still awaiting payment of outstanding entitlements, including balances of Earned Academic Allowance and promotion arrears, with some components dating back several years.
“These are not gifts or discretionary rewards. They are entitlements arising from work already performed and obligations that have accumulated over time,” the union said.
It maintained that its demands should therefore not be viewed as requests for new benefits but as calls for the settlement of obligations that had already accrued.
ASUU LAUTECH said it did not desire industrial action, insisting that dialogue, negotiation and a mutually acceptable resolution remained its preferred options.
However, the union warned that dialogue must produce tangible results, stressing that repeated appeals without implementation could not constitute a permanent industrial-relations strategy.
It warned that the university community could not indefinitely absorb the consequences of unimplemented agreements and accumulated entitlements while being expected to maintain uninterrupted academic excellence.
The union also recalled that ASUU National and the Ibadan Zone had previously raised concerns over the delayed implementation of the 2025 agreement at LAUTECH and other affected state-owned institutions, warning that continued non-implementation could disrupt academic activities.
The union appealed to the Oyo State Government to immediately commence full implementation of the December 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement at LAUTECH.
It also urged the government to direct the university’s Governing Council to establish a sustainable framework for addressing the institution’s funding and staff-welfare challenges.
In addition, ASUU called on the government to protect the stability of the academic calendar and uninterrupted learning by resolving the issues before they degenerate into industrial action.
The union appealed to traditional institutions, religious bodies, alumni, students, parents, professional associations, civil society organisations, the media and other stakeholders to lend their voices to the matter.
“This is not merely an ASUU matter. It is a LAUTECH matter. It is an education matter. It is an Oyo State matter. And ultimately, it is a matter concerning the future of our children and the development of the State,” the union stated.
ASUU LAUTECH specifically appealed to the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to personally and urgently intervene in the matter.
The union said it believed the state government had both the capacity and responsibility to prevent what it described as an avoidable disruption of academic activities.
While acknowledging the efforts of the state government in various areas of public service and infrastructure development, the union said its statement was intended to draw attention to an urgent issue requiring decisive action.
“LAUTECH has continued to give its best to Oyo State. Its workers deserve the opportunity to work under conditions that enable them to continue giving their best,” it said.
The union reiterated that it was seeking dialogue rather than confrontation, implementation rather than promises, sustainable funding rather than temporary relief, and industrial harmony rather than industrial action.
It urged the Oyo State Government to act urgently in the interest of LAUTECH, its workers, students and the people of the state.
