JUST IN: Makinde reacts to issue of LAUTECH funding

Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has revealed that the state has the financial strength to keep the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology running.

Makinde made this statement while speaking on Fresh FM this morning, noted that since the inception of his administration came, it had been funding the institution.

He also stated that in the appropriation bill enough money was allocated for the running of the institution.

“I went to my brother, Gboyega Oyetola and I spoke to him to let us keep ego aside.

“I explained to him that it is a universalllty and it should be universal and he saw reasons with me and we give God the glory. I remember my time at UNILAG, I did not even know where my lecturers hail from.

“Now the real work has started we have to ensure it is well funded and it contributes to the economy of Ogbomosho and Oyo State.

“I will be going to Ogbomosho to meet with the stakeholders very soon. However, I want to plead with the lecturers that there is no Osun forum, no Oyo forum,” the governor said.

When asked who the victor or vanquished was, he said: “Well the only victor are the students who will now get a university environment that is conducive for learning and research.

“We just want our students to be able to develop and contribute their quota to the development of the country.

“It is a win-win for students and lecturers. The major issue has been resolved and they don’t have any reason not to excel again.”

Speaking on the preparation of the state government to fund the school, he said, “when we came in, we said Oyo State will fund for January to July, and Osun for the other part.
But for some reasons, when we came in we had to intervene and for this year 2020, Oyo State has been funding LAUTECH alone and we have appropriated enough money in the 2021 budget to continue doing this.

“Nothing is going to change. Of course, we have issues with how the University has been running in the past we have to change it but it won’t matter where you come from. There won’t be Osun must go. It is a university. We have what it take to put LAUTECH where it used to be nationally and also put it on African and international ranking.

On Alimony, he said, “assets and liability are part of the process. The process was transparent. Also the NUC valued the assets and the liability and what belong to A, belongs to A and what belongs to B, belongs to B. It doesn’t matter anymore.”