Oyo State governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde on Thursday said that he may resort to court action to have ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso to end the protracted crises.
Makinde who disclosed this during his media chat to mark his 100 days in office said though he will hold a crucial meeting with the Osun State counterpart Governor, Gboyega Oyetola to discuss a possibility of ending the joint ownership of the institution.
He said the two of them reached an agreement to hold the meeting during the Southwest security summit held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Monday.
Makinde also added that his administration was ready to clear the outstanding July and August subventions which Osun State is yet to pay and which has impeded the institution from paying salaries of its workers.
The governor said that he would not be afraid to take the option of ending the joint ownership of LAUTECH if things continue this way.
Makinde revealed that Oyo State has paid subventions for the period of January to June while Osun, which is to pay for the last six months of the year, has been unable to fulfill its own obligations, thereby incapacitating LAUTECH from also fulfilling its obligations to staff and the community.
He recalled that former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State and Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State have agreed to end the joint ownership in 2010 but that some other factors hindered the implementation. Makinde added that the two former governors had also finalized how assets of the institution would be shared without either owner feeling cheated.
Though he refrained from promising that Oyo State would take over LAUTECH, he assured that things will not continue in bad shape for the university.
