Ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso has been ceded to Oyo State.

This is as both states have mutually agreed on the terms of settlement while the joint ownership of LAUTECH has been formally dissolved.

While the main University ownership was transferred to the Government of Oyo State, the College of Health Sciences, Osogbo was ceded to the Government of Osun State.

The reconciliation was said to have followed the extensive mediation by National Universities Commission on the need to restore tranquility and conducive learning environment in both institutions.

Executive Secretary of the NUC, Abubakar Rasheed, announced the resolution of the impasse during a press conference in Abuja.

Consequent upon the agreement by the states, Rasheed said NUC has transferred ownership of LAUTECH to Oyo State.

He explained that while the main University ownership was transferred to Oyo State, the College of Health Sciences, Osogbo is ceded to Osun State.

Rasheed said, “It is gratifying to note that after extensive deliberations, negotiations 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 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, Osogbo to the Government of Osun State.”

LAUTECH was established in 1990 by the old Oyo State with the main campus located in Ogbomoso, while the Teaching Hospital was subsequently established in Osogbo.

When Osun State was carved out of the old Oyo State in 1991, both states became joint owners of the institution.

However, over the years, the joint ownership arrangement became characterised by governance and management challenges, affecting the appointment of the Vice-chancellor and other Principal Officers, as well as the irregular payment of staff salaries.

Punch