LAUTECH lecturers begin indefinite strike over unpaid entitlements

Academic staff at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, have begun an indefinite strike. The action took effect at midnight on Thursday, according to a statement from the union.

The statement was signed by the union chairman, Professor Olujimi Dada, and secretary, Dr Soji Arinola. They said the decision followed an emergency congress held on Wednesday.

The lecturers are pressing for the implementation of a 2025 agreement between the Federal Government and the union, and for the payment of outstanding entitlements owed to members.

What the strike covers

The union has directed all members to stop academic work. According to the statement, the suspension covers lectures, examinations, statutory meetings, laboratory work, teaching and other interactions with students.

That means students at the Oyo State institution should expect classes and exams to be on hold for now, with no date given for a return.

LAUTECH is one of the universities owned jointly by Oyo and Osun states, and its students come from across the country. A prolonged shutdown affects not just lecture timetables but also students' timelines for graduation and the money families have already spent on fees and upkeep.

For staff, the strike is about money they say they are owed and a deal they say has not been honoured. The union has not said what specific amount is outstanding, and there was no immediate word from the university management or the Federal Government on the strike as of Thursday morning.

What happens next

The strike is indefinite, so it will continue until the union calls it off. That depends on whether the government moves on the 2025 agreement and the unpaid entitlements. The union has not announced any talks with the university authorities or the government.