The lingering crisis arising from the joint ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso, Oyo state, has been resolved.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja Friday, the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, said the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the two governors of Oyo and Osun states, shows that the main university campus at Ogbomoso has now become the property of Oyo state government, while the teaching hospital at Osogbo, has been taken over by Osun state government.
According the NUC boss, after the amicable resolution and agreement brokered by a tripartite committee which was chaired by NUC Deputy Executive Secretary (Academics) was signed by the two governors, each has been trying to see how best to utilise its own facilities.
Towards this end, the teaching hospital at Osogbo would be used as teaching hospital for Osun State University, while Oyo state is working round the clock to build a new teaching hospital for LAUTECH.
“The National Universities Commission wishes to commend and express its profound gratitude to the Executive Governors of Osun State, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola and His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, for their exemplary statesmanship, leadership and tremendous sacrifice by putting the interest of LAUTECH and its over 30, 000 students above political and other considerations….
“NUC stands ready to work with all stakeholders to ensure the full and faithful implementation of the terms of the agreement in all its ramifications, and we shall play our part in ensuring that LAUTECH gets back on track in a harmonious milieu conducive to the discharge of its tripodal mandates of teaching, research and community service, so that it may ultimately occupy its rightful place as a reputable university of technology, making cutting edge contributions to the advancement of knowledge, the technological and socio-economic development and global competitiveness of the nation,” Rasheed said.
The NUC boss said over the years the joint ownership of LUATECH had been characterised by insurmountable governance challenges as it relates to the appointment of vice chancellors, and other principal officers as well as irregular payment of staff salaries
LAUTECH was established in 1990 by the Oyo state government with its main campus at Ogbomoso and its teaching hospital subsequently was located in Osogbo, Osun state
However, when Osun state was carved out of old Oyo state in 1991, both states became joint owners of the institution, the development led to unending management crises that had affected both staff and students of the institution.
