Ololade Adeyanju/
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State today inaugurated a five-member committee to fashion out modalities for assuming full ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso by the state government.
LAUTECH is jointly owned by Oyo and Osun States.
Makinde had during a stakeholders’ meeting at LAUTECH yesterday expressed the belief that only the sole ownership of the institution by Oyo State could provide a permanent solution to the problems confronting it, adding that the state could shoulder the responsibility of sole ownership of the institution.
The governor also announced that the state would release N500 million intervention fund to the institution.
The committee is chaired by Prof Ayodeji Omole. Other members include, Chief (Mrs) Jumoke Akinjide, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), Prof Oyelowo Oyewo and the Commissioner for Education, Prof Daud Shangodoyin.
The committee’s mandate, according to Makinde, “is to, in a manner of speaking, secure a divorce for Oyo State from joint ownership of the university with Osun State”.
He thanked the members for accepting to serve and urged them to “put their hearts into this work and submit a preliminary report in four weeks”.
Speaking further during yesterday’s stakeholders’ meeting, the governor said that he would not shy away from taking up responsibilities in charting the way forward for the institution.
Makinde further disclosed that he had proposed 20 percent for education in the 2020 budget.
He cautioned the institution’s members of staff against causing unnecessary rift with Osun State, saying every worker must be assured of job security, irrespective of where he hails from.
Earlier, the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Michael Ologunde, said that the institution could assist the nation in achieving its industrialisation drive, if properly funded.
He disclosed that the total indebtedness of the institution stood at over N6 billion.
Staff unions and other stakeholders, who spoke at the meeting, expressed support for single ownership of the university and kicked against its privatisation.
They also appealed to the two states to offset all the outstanding salaries to enhance smooth academic calendar.
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