The National Universities Commission (NUC) has announced the dissolution of the joint ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, Oyo state, and the College of Health Sciences, Osogbo Osun.
Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, Executive Secretary, NUC, made the announcement at a news conference on the resolution of the lingering ownership crisis of the institution in Abuja on Friday, November 20.
1st News reports that over the years, the joint ownership arrangement of LAUTECH and the college of health sciences has been characterised by governance challenges.
These challenges have been affecting the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor and other principal officers; as well as irregular payment of staff salaries.
Rasheed said that in response to the call by stakeholders to intervene in the crisis; the commission constituted a Tripartite Committee comprising representatives of both states to interface with stakeholders; toward finding a lasting solution to the seemingly intractable crisis.
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He added that the committee which commenced its work reached an agreement with the states on the sharing of assets and liabilities of LAUTECH by Oyo and Osun states.
”It is gratifying to note that after extensive deliberations; negotiations; and consultations likewise, both owner states mutually agreed terms; and the joint ownership of LAUTECH was also 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 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,” he said.
Rasheed said that the governor of Oyo state was working to upgrade the state hospital to a teaching hospital; to accommodate the medical students of LAUTECH.
He alsk added that in like manner, the college of health sciences Osogbo would benefit the medical students of Osun state university.
The executive secretary, however, urged both states to bear the full cost and responsibilities of the university; to boost and expand its capacity.
He, therefore, pledged that the commission would work with stakeholders; to ensure the full and faithful implementation of the terms of the agreement in all its ramifications; as well as ensure LAUTECH gets on track in the discharge of its tripodal mandates of teaching; research; and community service.
