Oyo Assembly moves to take over LAUTECH

The Oyo State House of Assembly has summoned the state Ministry of Justice and its education counterpart to appear on September 27 over ownership status of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.

The summon followed a motion by Mrs Olawunmi Oladeji (Ogbomoso North/LP) and co-sponsored by nine other lawmakers at the plenary session on Thursday September 22, 2016.

The motion was entitled: “Reviewing the Joint Ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology: A Step toward Sole Ownership by Oyo State Government.”

Oladeji said the move would address the critical issues and crisis bedeviling the institution after Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, co-owner, failed to fulfill his state’s financial responsibility to the institution.

She said, “Osun State Government has defaulted, particularly in the payment of salaries of the institution’s members of staff for about 15 months.

“This has made it difficult for the smooth-running of LAUTECH.”

She said that such action has threatened the joint ownership of the institution.

She said, “The Internally Generated Revenue of the institution, which is meant for the payment of gratuity, pension of retirees, as well as other developmental projects within the university, has been depleted.

“This is due to the fact that the money is being used for the payment of workers’ salaries.

“This calls for the total hand-off of Osun Government from running of the university, and allows the Oyo State Government to take charge of sole and full ownership.”

In his contribution, Adesina (Ibadan South-East I/Accord), said that there was need to resolve the issue of joint ownership of LAUTECH since Osun has established its university and no longer ready to fund LAUTECH.

The Chairman, House Committee on Parliamentary Matters, Mr Olusegun Ajanaku (Ibadan South-West II/APC), said that the issue of LAUTECH was a national matter.

He said it was an issue that requires more work between the two parties involved.

The lawmaker urged people of Ogbomoso to be patient and allow amicable resolution of the issue between the two parties.

The cosponsors include, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Musah Abdulwasi (Saki West/APC); the majority leader, Mr Kehinde Subair (Ibadan South-West I/APC); Mr Peter Oyetunji (Surulere/Ogo-Oluwa/LP); Mr Akeem Oladipo (Ibadan North West/APC) and Mr Jimoh Akintunde (Ibarapa North & Central/APC).

Other are, Mr Afeez Adeleke (Iseyin/Itesiwaju/APC), Mr Fatai Adesina, Ibadan South East I/Accord) and Mr Lukman Balogun (Oorelope/LP).

(NAN)