Only consider candidates within LAUTECH community for VC, others— SSANU, NASU, NAAT tell Oyo Gov’t, G-C

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo state, have declared that only internal members of staff should be considered for appointments as the search for principal officers hots up in the institution.

They made the appeal on Tuesday in a press release made available to journalists and signed by Comrade Fajoye Hamzat Oyelere, the chairman of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), which is made up of SSANU, NASU, and NAT. 

According to the communique, we firmly believe that appointing external individuals to principal officer positions will pose significant risks, even though we recognise the value that fresh perspectives can bring.

The stakeholders emphasised that only candidates from within the school community should be given consideration for the four principal offices.

They added that authorities must make sure that those appointed to leadership positions have a thorough understanding and appreciation of the institution’s unique culture, challenges, and aspirations.

It read: “Being a Press Conference Statement Delivered by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologies (NAAT) and Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) on the Appointment of External Person(s) as Principal Officers of LAUTECH

“We, the Joint Action Committee, representing the critical stakeholders of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), are here to express our collective concern regarding the potential appointment of external individuals as principal officers of our esteemed institution.

“LAUTECH has a proud legacy of academic excellence, built over decades by the dedicated contributions of our teaching and non teaching staff, students and alumni. It is imperative that we preserve this legacy by ensuring that those appointed to leadership positions have a deep understanding and appreciation of our institution’s unique culture, challenges, and aspirations.

“While we recognize the value that fresh perspectives can bring, we firmly believe that appointing external persons to principal officers positions will pose significant risks. These include:

 A.*Lack of Institutional Knowledge:* External candidates may not fully grasp the intricacies of LAUTECH’s operations, history, and strategic goals, potentially leading to decisions that may not align with our institution’s best interests.

B. *Disruption of Established Relationships:* Our internal community, including faculty, staff, and students, has developed a cohesive working relationship. Introducing external leaders might disrupt this harmony, affecting morale and productivity.

C. *Overlooking Internal Talent:* LAUTECH is home to many qualified and capable individuals who have dedicated their careers to the betterment of our university. Overlooking these internal candidates in favor of outsiders undermines their contributions and devalues their loyalty.

“In light of these concerns, we urge the appointing authorities to prioritize candidates from within the LAUTECH community for these critical roles. We believe that promoting internal talent will ensure continuity, foster loyalty, and maintain the high standards of academic and administrative excellence for which LAUTECH is known. We call upon all stakeholders, including the state government, university’s governing council, and the general public, to support this stance. Let us work together to safeguard the integrity and future of LAUTECH by making informed and prudent decisions about our leadership.”