OGBOMOSO, Oyo State — The management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, has unveiled the LAUTECH Green and Clean Initiative, a new environmental management system aimed at promoting a cleaner, greener and more sustainable campus while improving the welfare of workers engaged in environmental services.
The initiative was approved by the university’s Governing Council following a report presented by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Razaq Olatunde Rom Kalilu. The report was based on the recommendation of the University Environmental Management Committee after a comprehensive review of the institution’s previous environmental management structure.
According to the university, the review revealed operational challenges that limited the effectiveness of the former daily-paid arrangement in delivering the standard of sanitation, cleanliness, and maintenance expected across the campus. The Vice-Chancellor said the objective of the new system was to institutionalise a sustainable environmental management framework that would reflect the university’s commitment to excellence while also protecting the welfare of those who render essential environmental services.
“Our objective is to institutionalise a sustainable environmental management system that reflects the university’s commitment to excellence while ensuring improved welfare for those who provide these essential services,” Professor Kalilu stated.
The new framework is expected to provide a more efficient, accountable and sustainable system for maintaining offices, lecture halls, sanitary facilities and other public spaces across the university. Beyond improving campus sanitation, the initiative is also designed to address the welfare needs of workers involved in environmental services. Under the new arrangement, personnel engaged in the services will benefit from a more structured employment system, improved remuneration, health insurance and other welfare packages that were largely unavailable under the previous arrangement.
The university said the initiative would also guarantee cleaner and better-maintained conveniences, improved waste management and a more aesthetically pleasing campus environment capable of supporting teaching, learning, research and innovation. As part of the transition process, the university management requested the service provider to give priority consideration to workers previously engaged under the daily-paid system before recruiting additional personnel.
The firm accepted the request and assured the institution that it would continue to engage affected workers and provide necessary clarification on the terms and conditions of employment under the new arrangement. The university also reacted to a video circulating on social media containing allegations regarding the implementation of the initiative, stating that the claims did not reflect the truth about the initiative or the process that led to its introduction.
According to the university, affected support workers were regularly engaged throughout the transition process and were duly informed of the reasons for the reform, the objectives of the new system and the opportunities available under the new arrangement. The management stressed that the reform was conceived solely in the overall interest of the university and with due consideration for the welfare of those involved in environmental service delivery.
The university described the LAUTECH Green and Clean Initiative as a strategic institutional reform aimed at strengthening environmental sustainability, improving service delivery and providing a healthier and more conducive environment for staff, students, and visitors. It reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, fairness and responsible governance, adding that it would continue to pursue policies and initiatives that enhance institutional excellence, promote the welfare of members of the university community, and reinforce LAUTECH’s position as one of Nigeria’s leading universities.
The initiative has been widely welcomed by stakeholders, who see it as a positive step towards addressing the environmental challenges facing the university and improving the welfare of workers. The management has assured that the transition to the new system will be smooth and that all affected workers will be treated fairly. For now, the LAUTECH Green and Clean Initiative represents a significant milestone in the university’s journey towards a more sustainable and inclusive campus environment.
