LAUTECH: Oyetola releases N472m

Fisayo Akinduro, Osogbo
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Barely a week after inaugurating a five-man panel to negotiate Osun State’s rights and privileges in the joint ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, Governor,  Adegboyega Oyetola, has released the sum of N472 million to the institution.

It will be recalled that the two governors had met in Abuja two weeks ago at the instance of the Chairman of the University’s Governing Council,  Professor Oladapo Afolabi, to chart a way forward for the University.

Part of the understanding reached at the said meeting was the setting up of a 10-man committee, five from each state, to look at all the issues surrounding the joint ownership agreements and proffer lasting solutions to the challenges.

While Osun, last week, empanelled its own committee, led by Professor Olu Aina, Oyo is yet to inaugurate its own committee.

As a follow up to the understanding reached at the said meeting, Osun on Wednesday again released funds for both the University and the teaching hospital in Osogbo.

In a letter, addressed to the chairman of the University’s council, signed by the Osun Commissioner for Finance, Bola Oyebamiji, a copy of which was sighted by our Correspondent, the governor noted that the release of the fund was in line with the earlier agreement reached at a meeting in Abuja between the Oyo State Governor,  Seyi Makinde and himself on the need to ensure “financial stability and sustainability” of the institution.

The breakdown of the amount indicates that, while the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira Only (N250,000,000.00) will go to the  University, in Ogbomoso, Two Hundred and Twenty-two Million Naira Only (N222, 000,000.00), will go to the University’s Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, for payment of salaries.

The letter reads in part: “I wish to inform you that the State Government of Osun has paid the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira Only (N250,000,000.00) to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso in line with the agreement earlier reached by Governors Gboyega Oyetola of Osun and Seyi Makinde of Oyo (the two owner states) in Abuja to ensure financial stability and sustainability of the institution.