Oyo State LAUTECH ASUU: Implement 2025 Agreement, Pay Arrears

• The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) LAUTECH branch urged the Oyo State Government to implement the December 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement.
• The union also demanded payment of outstanding staff entitlements, including earned academic allowance balances and promotion arrears, some accumulated over several years.
• Provisions of the 2025 agreement requiring domestication at LAUTECH have been approved by the university's Governing Council and communicated to the Visitor.
• ASUU National and the Ibadan Zone previously warned that delayed implementation at LAUTECH and other state institutions could disrupt academic activities.
• ASUU LAUTECH emphasized that the issue impacts the long-term sustainability of the nationally recognized institution and its ability to maintain high standards.

The union stressed that the matter extends beyond the welfare of individual lecturers, impacting the long-term sustainability of one of Oyo State's major tertiary institutions.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) branch at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, recently called upon the state government to fully implement the Federal Government-ASUU agreement signed in December 2025. In a statement issued on Tuesday from Ibadan, the state capital, the union also demanded the immediate payment of outstanding staff entitlements, which include the balance of earned academic allowance and various promotion arrears. These arrears, according to the union, have accumulated over several years.

The statement, jointly signed by ASUU LAUTECH Chairperson Prof Olujimi Dada and Secretary Dr Soji Arinola, indicated that the union had exhausted numerous avenues of dialogue with the state government in an attempt to resolve these pressing issues. The union also extended an appeal to a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including traditional institutions, religious bodies, alumni associations, students, parents, professional organizations, civil society groups, and the media, urging them to support its demands.

The 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement, a central point of contention, was the culmination of years of negotiations between the Federal Government and the union, finally signed in December 2025. The provisions of this agreement that require domestication at LAUTECH have already undergone the necessary internal processes, receiving approval from the university’s Governing Council and subsequently being brought to the attention of the institution's Visitor. This confirms that the existence and terms of the agreement are not in question, but rather its full implementation.

Concerns regarding the delayed implementation of the 2025 agreement at LAUTECH and other affected state institutions have been previously voiced by ASUU National and its Ibadan Zone. These bodies had issued warnings that continued non-implementation could lead to significant disruptions in academic activities. Despite preferring dialogue as the most responsible approach to resolving industrial disputes within the university system, ASUU LAUTECH noted that it took public pressure and the threat of industrial action from another tertiary institution in the state before the matter garnered what it considered adequate governmental attention.

The financial implications associated with implementing the 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement have been formally submitted to the state government, following an official request. This submission, according to ASUU LAUTECH, means that the current delay cannot reasonably be attributed to a lack of information regarding the financial commitments involved. The union emphasized that a clear decision, adequate funding, and the immediate commencement of full implementation are now urgently required.

Beyond the agreement, the dispute also encompasses broader issues of unpaid staff entitlements. The academic staff are still awaiting the balance of their earned academic allowance and promotion arrears, with some components of these obligations dating back several years. The union asserts that these are not discretionary rewards but entitlements stemming from work already performed, with some obligations having accumulated over several years.

The ongoing industrial dispute at LAUTECH holds significant implications for the institution's standing and future. LAUTECH has consistently received national recognition, including accolades such as the Best State University in Nigeria and the Best University of Technology in Nigeria. The union argues that sustaining the university's high standards in teaching, research, accreditation, and technological development is directly dependent on adequate and predictable funding, which is currently jeopardized by the non-implementation of the agreement and unpaid entitlements.

Ultimately, the union stressed that the matter extends beyond the welfare of individual lecturers, impacting the long-term sustainability of one of Oyo State's major tertiary institutions. The resolution of the Oyo State LAUTECH ASUU 2025 agreement implementation is crucial for maintaining academic stability and ensuring the continued excellence of a key player in Nigerian public university funding and education.

Lawyers advising public sector clients or educational institutions should monitor this situation for potential industrial action and its impact on operations, and review existing collective bargaining agreement implementation strategies and financial obligations.

Source: Original reporting via The PUNCH