Oyo lawmakers seek Osun’s removal as LAUTECH co-owner

SOME lawmakers in Oyo State House of Assembly have sought Osun State’s ouster from the joint ownership and management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH).

A motion sponsored by the lawmaker  representing Ogbomoso North, Olawumi Oladeji and nine others at the Assembly’s plenary session yesterday  accused Osun State  of not committing funds into the institution.

The motion is titled: “Reviewing the Joint ownership of LAUTECH: A step towards sole ownership by Oyo State Government”.

Mrs. Oladeji explained that when Osun State was created from Oyo State in 1991, the two states agreed to the joint ownership of LAUTECH, and reached an agreement on how to share responsibilities, including payment of workers’ salaries.

The lawmaker claimed that Osun State has been reneging on the agreement, thereby threatening the university’s survival.

She noted that Oyo State has been trying to “ensure the sustainability of the high standard of education, which the university is noted for in the past by fulfilling its part of the financial obligation required”.

“We are concerned about the persistent crises in the university due to default in payment of salaries as and when due. Cumulatively, Osun State government owes 15 months as at September, 2016.

“Consequent upon this, the university staff have embarked on an indefinite strike, which paralysed activities in the university. It should be noted that if the industrial strike persists for too long, it may spell doom for the existence and growth of the university.”

The motion urged the two governors to meet and deliberate on a way forward

In his contribution to the motion, another lawmaker,  Kayode Akande, said it was a breach of agreement and lack of responsibility on the part of Osun to have jettisoned its financial responsibility.

Segun Ajanaku said it was a sensitive matter that needed to be deliberated upon by the two states.

He added that ceding of university to Oyo State would relieve Osun State of its financial burden.

But the Speaker, Michael Adeyemo, said the House needed to revisit the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two states, and which was passed into law by the Assembly, on October 23, 2010.

The MOU, according to him, shows how the states agreed to manage the financial and infrastructural facilities of the institution.

The Assembly agreed to invite Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Seun Abimbola with officials of Ministry of Education to appear at the plenary on Tuesday.