Oyo State House of Assembly has summoned the state Ministry of Justice and its Education counterpart to appear on Sept. 27 over ownership status of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso.

This followed a motion by Mrs Olawunmi Oladeji (Ogbomoso North/LP) and co-sponsored by nine other lawmakers at the plenary session on Thursday.

The motion was entitled: “Reviewing the Joint Ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology: A Step toward Sole Ownership by Oyo State Government.”

Oladeji said the move would address the critical issues and crisis bedeviling the institution following refusal of Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, co-owner, to fulfill his state’s financial responsibility to the institution.

“Osun State Government has defaulted, particularly in the payment of salaries of the institution’s members of staff for about 15 months.

“This has made it difficult for the smooth-running of LAUTECH,’’ the lawmaker said.

She said that such action has threatened the joint ownership of the institution.

“The Internally Generated Revenue of the institution, which is meant for the payment of gratuity, pension of retirees, as well as other developmental projects within the university, has been depleted.

“This is due to the fact that the money is being used for the payment of workers’ salaries.

“This, calls for the total hand-off of Osun Government from running of the university, and allows the Oyo State Government to take charge of sole and full ownership,” she said.

In his contributions, Adesina (Ibadan South-East I/Accord), said that there was need to resolve the issue of joint ownership of LAUTECH, since Osun has established its university and no longer ready to fund LAUTECH.

Also, the Chairman, House Committee on Parliamentary Matters, Mr Olusegun Ajanaku (Ibadan South-West II/APC), said that the issue of LAUTECH was a national matter.

He said it was an issue that requires more of underground work between the two parties involved.

The lawmaker, therefore, urged people of Ogbomoso to be patient and give rooms for amicable resolution of the issue between the two parties.

In his remarks, Speaker Michael Adeyemo said that the best way to resolve the matter was to know and understand the position of the state Ministry of Justice on the Oct. 23, 2010 Memorandum of Understanding.

Adeyemo urged the state Attorney-General to appear before the Assembly to clear some grey areas over legal actions so far taken by both states in resolving the institution’s persistent crisis.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that cosponsors include: the Deputy Speaker, Mr Musah Abdulwasi (Saki West/APC), and the majority leader, Mr Kehinde Subair (Ibadan South-West I/APC).

They are: Mr Peter Oyetunji (Surulere/Ogo-Oluwa/LP), Mr Akeem Oladipo (Ibadan North West/APC) and Mr Jimoh Akintunde (Ibarapa North & Central/APC).

Other cosponsors are: Mr Afeez Adeleke (Iseyin/Itesiwaju/APC), Mr Fatai Adesina, Ibadan South East I/Accord) and Mr Lukman Balogun (Oorelope/LP).

NAN reports that LAUTECH was established by both Oyo and Osun on April 23, 1990, and has a staff strength of about 3,000. (NAN)

Update news