Tragic Student Death Forces LAUTECH Campus Closure
The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso has suspended all academic activities at its Iseyin campus for two weeks following the tragic death of a student that sparked angry protests among the student population.
The unfortunate incident occurred on Thursday when Afolayan Oluwadarasimi Roseline, a 200-level student of Agricultural Economics at the College of Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources, was crushed by a bus. The young student was reportedly on her way to refill a gas cylinder when the fatal accident happened.
Student Anger Erupts into Protest
The news of Roseline's death triggered immediate outrage among students, who took to the streets of Iseyin in protest. The demonstration turned violent as angry students reportedly set the bus involved in the accident ablaze.
The protest disrupted normal activities in parts of Iseyin before authorities managed to restore order. The intensity of the student reaction prompted university management to take decisive action.
Confirming the suspension, LAUTECH Registrar Olayinka O. Balogun stated in an official release on Friday that the Iseyin campus would remain closed until November 24. The closure is intended to allow tempers to cool and for security to be reinforced around the campus.
Medical Lecturers Reject Salary Implementation Delay
Meanwhile, the LAUTECH branch of the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) has strongly rejected the university management's proposed timeline for implementing the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
The medical lecturers have been on strike since August 1, 2025, over the non-implementation of CONMESS. University management had announced through Registrar Balogun on November 7 that CONMESS implementation would begin with the November 2025 salary cycle, with full rollout expected by July 2026.
However, in a strongly worded rejoinder signed by Acting Chairman Prof. Michael Olamoyegun and Acting Secretary Dr Ayobami Alabi, NAMDA described the university's position as "a deliberate act of public deception, misdirection, and intimidation."
The association accused management of reneging on earlier assurances and using "cheap propaganda" to divert attention from its failures. NAMDA emphasized that every other medical school in Nigeria already implements CONMESS and that LAUTECH's continued delay violates existing labor laws.
"The promise to 'commence partial implementation from November 2025' and 'fully implement by July 2026' is an attempt to push medical lecturers into another nine-month period of suffering and cheating — an insult to professional dignity," the statement read.
The medical lecturers maintained that recent protests by medical students were triggered by management's failure to honor commitments, not union militancy. NAMDA has demanded immediate implementation of CONMESS using the Oyo State Government's current template, with arrears dating back to January 2025.
The association has called for urgent intervention by the Governing Council and the Oyo State Government to protect the integrity of medical education at the university while reaffirming its commitment to continue the strike until full CONMESS implementation is achieved.
