LAUTECH Alumni Faults Osun Assembly Over Appointment of External Auditor

The Alumni Association of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) has faulted Osun State House of Assembly for opposing the appointment of an external auditor by the Governing Council of the institution.

According to the association, Osun Assembly was wrong on its submission that the appointment of an external auditor for the institution by the Council was capable of jeopardizing the existing relationship between the two owner states.

The Speaker of the Osun Assembly, Hon Najeem Salaam had during the 2018 Budget defence of the institution on Tuesday told the Vice Chancellor, Prof Adeniyi Gbadegesin that the appointment of an external auditor by the Council was capable of straining the existing relationship between the two owner states.

But the Alumni association, in a press release signed by its president, Comrade Solomon Onilede, maintained that it is the prerogative of the governing council to approve the appointment of an officer as it did in the case of an external auditor,

Onilede who is a member of the LAUTECH Governing Council said the position of the Osun assembly was considered as undue interference and influence in the operations and management of the university, even as it said that it recognized the oversight function of the House of Assembly.

The statement reads: “It is within the purview of the two owner states of the University to appoint the Governing Council to run the ivory tower which has supreme authority over its affairs, just as it is imperative for the House not play politics with education.

“Osun state House of Assembly has no locus standi to either appoint or effect sack in the university. The power to appoint lies solely in the hands of the governing council, appointed by the governors of the two owner states.

“However, constitutionally, the House of Assembly possess the oversight power to summon and carryout investigation in any case of verified irregularity.

The lawmakers can never dictate to the council how they are going to run the affairs of the university. What Osun Assembly has done is nothing but an undue interference In LAUTECH matters.

“Since the two visitors to the university have unanimously inaugurated the council, the Supreme authority to manage the institution lies in the hand of the governing council.

“The essence why the National University Commission (NUC) gave sole autonomy to the University’s governing council is to avoid undue influences in the affairs and operations of universities in the country.

“The Alumni as a body therefore, implore the lawmakers to desist from fanning ember of discord in the university.”

The Alumni stated that since the Assembly understands the financial condition of the university, and that it is poorly funded, the lawmakers were expected to use their legislative power to pull funds to the 27-year old institution to save it from extinction.