LAUTECH: Makinde To Pay Osun N1bn •Releases N500m For Iseyin Campus Take-Off
Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, is set to pay the Osun State government N1 billion naira on or before the first week of December to make a total of N2 billion out of the N8 billion contained in the asset sharing agreement on the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH).
Chairman, Governing Council of the institution, Professor Deji Omole, made this known in a statement on one year anniversary of the pronouncement of the sole ownership of LAUTECH and six months of the inauguration the Governing Council of the Institution,
He also disclosed that the governor has released the sum of N500million to LAUTECH as grant for the smooth take-off of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Renewable Natural Resources in Iseyin Campus of the university.
Professor Omole said Governor Makinde has paid five, out of eight, months salaries owed workers of the institution before taking over the sole ownership of the institution and expressed optimism that the balance would be cleared in the next six months.
Recalled that Oyo State became the sole owner of LAUTECH on November 20, 2020 following agreement reached between the two former joint-owners of the institution, Oyo and Osun states.
“Oyo State had already paid N1 billion to Osun State and earmarked another N1 billion to be paid on or before the first week of December, 2021.
“Oyo State has liquidated five out of the eight months salary arrears being owned workers of the university. In addition the Oyo State government had released the sum.of 500million naira to the institution has take off grant for the smooth running of the school.
“Indeed, the capital expenditure for infrastructure development of the school has been budgeted for in the 2022 Appropriation Bill. This is happening for the first time in the history of the institution,” he said.
Omole added that the 25 per cent reduction in fees for students in the institution, as announced by Governor Makinde, will take effect from the 2022 Session, urging students to reciprocate the gesture by staying focused and shunning anti-social behaviours.
The chairman of the LAUTECH Governing Council further said the Council has been monitoring the finances of the university transparently to ensure prudent management of resources and reporting same to the Visitor, Governor Seyi Makinde.
According to him, the investment of the governor is already positioning LAUTECH as choice institution for those seeking admission as 11, 300 candidates are to write post+JAMB examination as against 5, 000 in the 2017/2018 Session.
In the area of training and manpower development, Professor Omole stated that a staff audit has been carried out to ascertain the manpower needs of LAUTECH.
“We are hoping to inject new blood because LAUTECH is top heavy and this does not give room for mentorship and successor plan. We have done staff audit.
“We have also established collaboration with University of Botswana and Oyo state government has resolved to patronise them for consultancy,” he added.
Omole said the last one year of sole ownership has shown a promising future and appealed to staff of the institution to be patient with the government in its effort towards repositioning it and entrenching it as a centre of excellence.
