The management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, has commenced the implementation of a new environmental management system designed to promote a cleaner, greener and more sustainable campus while improving the welfare of personnel engaged in environmental services.
The initiative, christened the LAUTECH Green and Clean Initiative, was approved by the university’s governing council, following a report by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Razaq Olatunde Rom Kalilu, and the recommendation of the university’s environmental management committee after a comprehensive review of the previous environmental management structure.
The vice-chancellor said the objective of the initiative was to institutionalise a sustainable environmental management system that reflects the university’s commitment to excellence while ensuring improved welfare for those providing essential environmental services.
He said the new framework would provide a more efficient, accountable and sustainable system for maintaining offices, lecture halls, sanitary facilities and other public spaces across the campus.
However, under the new arrangement, personnel engaged in environmental services are expected to benefit from a more structured employment system, including improved remuneration, health insurance and other welfare packages that were largely unavailable under the previous arrangement.
The management said the initiative would also guarantee cleaner and better-maintained conveniences, improved waste management and a more aesthetically pleasing campus environment to support teaching, learning, research and innovation.
The university, speaking on the implementation process, disclosed that during negotiations preceding the rollout of the initiative, it requested the service provider to give priority consideration to workers previously engaged under the daily-paid system before recruiting additional personnel.
According to the management, the firm accepted the request and assured the university that it would continue to engage affected workers while providing necessary clarification on the terms and conditions of employment under the new arrangement.
The university also expressed concern over a video circulating on some social media platforms containing allegations about the implementation of the initiative.
It maintained that the claims contained in the video did not reflect the true position regarding the initiative or the process leading to the introduction of the new environmental management system.
The management stated that throughout the transition process, it maintained regular engagement with the affected support workers, who were informed of the reasons for the reform, the objectives of the new system and the opportunities available under the new arrangement.
It said the reform was conceived in the overall interest of the university and with due consideration for the welfare of those involved in environmental service delivery.
The university, therefore, urged members of the public to disregard what it described as misleading narratives capable of creating unnecessary apprehension about the initiative.
