Oyo State House of Assembly has commenced the discussion of a motion calling for the disengagement of State of Osun from the joint ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH).
Osun Government has been blamed for poor financial commitment to the institution where staffs are currently on indefinite strike after several months of unpaid salaries.
The motion, ” Reviewing the Joint ownership of LAUTECH: A Step towards sole ownership by Oyo State Government”, sponsored by the lawmaker representing Ogbomoso North, Olawumi Oladeji and nine other lawmakers, came up for discussion at the plenary session Thursday.
Oladeji noted that upon the creation of State of Osun out of Oyo State in 1991, the two states concerned agreed to the joint ownership and reached an agreement of sharing responsibilities including payment of staff salaries, but State of Osun had been reneging on the agreement thereby threatening the growth and development of the university.
She noted that the Oyo State Government had been trying it’s best to ensure the sustainability of the high standard of education which the university was noted for in the past through its commitment to fulfilling its own part of the financial obligation required.
“We are concerned about the persistent crises in the university due to default in payment of staff salaries as and when due. Cumulatively, State of Osun Government owes 15 months staff salaries as at September, 2016. Consequent upon this, the university staffs have embarked on an indefinite strike which has paralysed all activities in the university. It should be noted that if the industrial strike embarked upon by the university staffs persist for too long it may spell doom for the existence and growth of the university.
“Urgent need to be taken to address the issue of joint ownership of LAUTECH in view of the present challenges and crises rocking the university.”
She urged Oyo State government to show more concern as regards the welfare of the staff, students and LAUTECH as a whole.
She said: “That Oyo State Government should demonstrate and be concerned about the sole ownership of the university since the State of Osun Government has consistently failed to honour it’s own financial obligation. That they should ensure that the university’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is used for the purposes for which it’s means for. Also urged two governors of the States concerned with the ownership of LAUTECH to meet and deliberated on a way out. In view of the fact that the State of Osun cannot meet up with and fulfil its obligations as regards the sustenance of the university, including financial obligation, the hous urged them to remove their hand from the running of the university and allow Oyo State Government to take full charge of sole and full ownership.”
In his separate contribution, Kayode Akande said it was a breach of agreement, lack of responsibility on the part of State of Osun.
Also, Segun Ajanaku, said it was a sensitive matter that needs to be deliberated upon by the two ownership States, he added that ceding of university to Oyo State will relieve the State of Osun of its financial burdens on the institution.
The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Michael Adeyemo said the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two states and pass into law by that assembly on October 23, 2010 showed how the states agreed to manage the financial and infrastructural facilities of the institution.
The house has therefore invited the Attorney General of the state, and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Seun Abimbola, along with the officials of the State Ministry of Education to appear at the house plenary on Tuesday, September 27, 2016.
Source: WorldStage Newsonline
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