The Senior Staff Association of Universities has tasked the Federal Government to take over the ownership and funding of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso if that will bring a permanent solutions to the problems rocking the university.
The Chairman of SSANU in LAUTECH, Alhaji Muraina Alesinloye, said this in an interview with our correspondent in Osogbo on Thursday.
Alesinloye said although it would be difficult to ask the FG which was facing a serious financial challenge to take over the running of LAUTECH, he stated that this should be done if it would solve the ownership and funding problems confronting the institution.
He said, “People are saying that FG should take over LAUTECH but LAUTECH is in Oyo State and the FG has University of Ibadan it is funding in Oyo State already.
“But if that will permanently solve the ownership and funding problems I think the FG should take over the running of LAUTECH.”
The National Association of Nigerian Students has also called on Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and his Osun State counterpart, Mr. Rauf Ajimobi, to invite the FG to take over the ownership of the university and save it from dying.
The Deputy Coordinator of NANS in South West, Mr. Saheed Afolabi, who said this in an interview with our correspondent in Osogbo.
He said the two governors should invite the FG to take over the institution if they were no longer interested in funding the institution which is jointly owned by Oyo and Osun States.
Afolabi said it was wrong for Ajimobi to declare that his administration would no longer fund any higher institution including the embattled LAUTECH.
The NANS coordinator said, “Governor Ajimobi cannot pull out of funding LAUTECH. It is wrong, not at this time. If he tries to do that, we will stage a massive protest against his action in Oyo State. The lives of thousands of students are involved.
“Governor Rauf Aregbesola also owes and what do you think will become of the students and thestaff? Staffs are on strike because they are not paid, the situation is messy as at now.
“But they should ask the Federal Government to take over the running of the school if they are no longer capable of running it. LAUTECH must be allowed to die in the interest of the students and the workers.”
The ownership crisis rocking the university became worse with the alleged attack on some university workers by hoodlums on the university campus on Tuesday.
