TheCable

After years of challenges regarding the joint ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), the institution has now been ceded to Oyo state.

LAUTECH was established by the old Oyo state government in 1990, but the creation of Osun state in 1991 led to joint ownership of the institution.

Abubakar Rasheed, executive secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), announced the dissolution of the joint ownership of the institution at a press conference on Friday.

Over the years, joint ownership of LAUTECH has affected smooth operations in the institution, leading to delay in academic activities, payment of salaries, and recruitment of staff.

According to Rasheed who described LAUTECH as “a promising university”, the decision to dissolve the joint ownership followed a memorandum of understanding by the Oyo and Osun state governments.

He also announced that the College of Health Sciences in Osogbo, the Osun capital, will go to Osun state.

Rasheed said after a meeting with both state governments, the NUC had constituted a tripartite committee which began work in March 2020, to “interface with stakeholders towards finding a lasting solution to the seemingly intractable crisis”.

“It is gratifying to note that after extensive deliberations, negotiations and consultations, both owner states mutually agreed terms and the joint ownership of LAUTECH was formally dissolved,” he said.

“The mutually agreed dissolution was formalised through the signing of a memorandum of agreement by the Executive Governors of Oyo and Osun states, witnessed by the attorneys-general of both states, giving legal effect to the transfer of ownership of LAUTECH to Oyo state and the College of Health Sciences to the government of Osun state.

“The NUC wishes to commend and express its profound gratitude to the governors of both states 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.”

The NUC executive secretary urged the two states to ensure responsible management of the institutions, and promised that the commission would ensure the full implementation of the terms of the agreement.