The National Universities Commission (NUC) has resolved the ownership crisis of Ladoke Akintola University of Science and Technology (LAUTECH) in favour of Oyo.
The commission however ceded the College of Health Sciences located in Osogbo to Osun.
The mutually agreed dissolution was formalised through the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MoA) by Oyo and Osun Governors.
It was witnessed by the Attorneys-General of both states, giving legal effect to the transfer of ownership of LAUTECH to the government of Oyo State and the College of Health Sciences to the government of Osun state.
Both states have been battling over the ownership of the institution for many years.
LAUTECH Ogbomosho was established in 1990 by the old Oyo State government with the main campus located in Ogbomosho while the teaching hospital was established in Osogbo.
However, trouble started when Osun was carved out of the old Oyo in 1991, making the two states joint owners of the institution.
The joint ownership arrangement was characterised by governance and management challenges, a development that affected the appointment of Vice- Chancellors to run the affairs of the institution.
It was learnt that there had been issues with irregular payment of staff salaries over the years, as both parties were not taking responsibility.
Executive Secretary of NUC, Abubakar Rasheed, at a meeting with officials from both states in Abuja on Friday, clarified the administrative cost and other remuneration cost of LAUTECH would be borne by the Oyo State government.
The NUC chief noted that Osun would, on its part, bear the financial burden of the College of Health Sciences.
“It is gratifying to note that after extensive deliberations, negotiation and consultations, both owner states mutually agreed terms and the joint ownership of LAUTECH was formally dissolved.
“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 the government of Oyo State and the College of Health Sciences to the government of Osun state.”
The commission had constituted a tripartite committee which commenced its assignment on March 15, 2020, with extensive meetings and interactions with Oyo and Osun Governors as well as other stakeholders.
Following an update of the valuation of assets and liabilities, including a forensic audit, the negotiation retreat, which culminated in the sharing of the assets and liabilities, met in Lagos between 8th -12th November 2020 where they arrived at a resolution, bearing in mind, the current values of both states. (TheNation)
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