NUC resolves LAUTECH ownership crisis in favour of Oyo

A new agreement has been reached between Oyo and Osun state governments on the ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Science and Technology (LAUTECH) and the College of Health Sciences, Osogbo.

While LAUTECH will now be fully owned by the Oyo State Government, the College of Health Services will be controlled by Osun State Government.

THE National Universities Commission ended the long running battle between the two state governments over the joint ownership of LAUTECH.

A memorandum of agreement (MoA) to this effect was signed on Friday by the governors of the two states – Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun)- in Abuja in the presence of their attorneys-general.

The MoU guarantees  job security for indigenes of either states working in the two institutions and also preserves the rights of all students of both states for all times and purposes.

Executive Secretary of NUC, Abubakar Rasheed, said the administrative and other costs of LAUTECH would be borne by the Oyo State Government.

The executive secretary said this at a meeting with officials of both states in Abuja, adding that Osun on its part would bear the financial burden of the College of Health Sciences.

LAUTECH 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.

The dispute began when Osun State was carved out of the old Oyo State in 1991, making both states joint owners of the institution.

The joint ownership arrangement was characterised by governance and management challenges, which affected the appointment of vice-chancellors for the institution.