•We’re Making Efforts To Get Balance – Govt
THE Oyo State Government has defaulted on the terms of payment of the sum of N8bn to the Osun State Government as part of asset sharing agreement for the discontinuation of the joint ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
The Oyo State government had agreed to pay a sum of N8bn to the Osun state government, following the ceding of LAUTECH ownership to the former in November, 2020.
LAUTECH was established in 1990 by the old Oyo State government with the main campus located in Ogbomoso, while the teaching hospital was sited in Osogbo.
When Osun State was carved out of the old Oyo State in 1991, the two states agreed to be the joint owners of the institution.
LAUTECH had since been the baby of both Oyo and Osun State governments until the administration of former governor Adegboyega Oyetola opted out of the joint ownership.
Among other conditions and sharing formula, the Oyo State government agreed to pay a sum of N8bn to Osun over a period of three years.
Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, had on January 19, 2021, said: “On the issue of LAUTECH, the Oyo State Government at its Executive Council Meeting has approved N8billion to be paid to the Osun State Government which formed part of assets sharing negotiation reached.
“We will pay N1bn in January 2021, another N1bn in December 2021, while N3bn will be paid in 2022 and the remaining N3bn will be paid in 2023.”
But findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that the Oyo state government has defaulted on the terms, a development that raises doubt on the fulfilment of its agreement to fully pay the N8bn within the stipulated time.
The medium learnt that the Oyo government only paid a sum of N3.5bn to Osun state during the Oyetola administration.
The medium learnt that a sum of N1bn was paid to Osun government on February 2, 2021, another N1bn was received on February 14, 2022, and N1.5bn was paid on November 7, 2022.
However, the Oyetola administration did not make public the receipt of the fund.
This is just as the Oyo state government has not made any payment since 2022.
It was gathered that the Oyo state government was to pay N3bn in 2022 but only paid N1.5bn, just as it was yet to pay any amount to Osun government in 2023 as of the time of filing this report yesterday.
When contacted, the Commissioner for Finance in Osun State, Barr. Sola Ogungbile, confirmed that a total of N3.5bn had been paid to Osun, noting that the state was yet to receive any amount since then.
Ogungbile, in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday, said efforts were being made to get the Oyo State government to pay the balance of N4.5bn due to the state within the agreed period.
He said: “Osun state has received a total of N3.5bn from Oyo state government on the LAUTECH. The last payment was made in November 2022 and we have not received anything since then.”
The National Universities Commission (NUC) had on November 20, 2020 announced the dissolution of the joint ownership of LAUTECH, following an agreement between Oyetola and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state.
The agreement cancels the joint ownership of the 30-year old university by the two states.
Part of the asset inherited by the Osun State government is the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital and the College of Health Sciences, Isale-Osun, Osogbo, which is now managed by the Osun State University.
Ismaeel Uthman is an Editor, Media Consultant with over 14 years experience in print journalism.
A consummate writer and reporter, Uthman has received accolades for his works, especially one that appeals for good governance and community development. He is a recipient of many laurels, including the Best Investigative Reporter (Print) Award of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun State Council, in 2020.
