CORONAVIRUS: LAUTECH ‘Ignores’ Makinde’’s Directive, ‘Threatens’ Workers Who Shun Offices

Adebayo Abdulrahman

The management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, has ignored the directive of Governor Seyi Makinde, that all schools in the State should be shut down to curtail the spread of Coronavirus.

In a memo signed by Dr. Kayode A. Ogunleye, the management stated that despite being aware of the challenges associated with the outbreak of the virus, it is taking appropriate steps at guiding against its spread in the University. It added that “it is consequent upon this that the University authority is complying with instructions from the appropriate organs of governments on the matter.”

However, despite stating clearly that it is complying with the instructions of the government to prevent the spread of the virus, the management wrote further in the memo that it is “imperative to call on the staff of the university not to take instructions to stay away from work from unofficial quarters as it is the University Management that can give such order based on further directive of the Governments.”

It stressed further that any action contrary to the directive of the Management will be viewed as an affront and would be treated “in line with the University rules and regulations on such matters.”

The instruction that all staff of the University must come to work is a disregard for an executive order issued by the Governor who is the head of the task force to prevent the spread of the virus in Oyo State that all schools in the State should be closed till after Easter holiday.

The memo is a reply to an earlier statement issued by theschool’s chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, where members were informed to observe “the stay at home directive for one month with effect from 23rd March 2020, as contained in the circular of the National Universities Commission (NUC) dated 20th March 2020, to all Nigerian Universities with immediate effect.”

At the time of writing this report, the state has 1 confirmed case, making it then country’s 44th confirmed case of people infected by a virus that has killed more than 15,000 people globally.