By Gbenga Olarinoye

Osogbo—The Osun State government, co-owner of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, has called on members of the public to prevail on the management and staff of the institution to be open and sincere towards ending the lingering crisis rocking the university.

LAUTECH

The state government, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Adelani Baderinwa yesterday, said it is concerned about the plight of students of the institution, hence the need to alert the public on what is going on in LAUTECH.

According to Boderinwa, the state government was worried and doing all humanly possible to resolve the crisis and ensure quick resumption, notwithstanding “the selfish politics being played by some people, management union and staff of the institution.”

The government alleged that some elements within the university were not sincere on resolving the matter, saying that such people are grandstanding and deliberately stifling efforts to pull the institution out of the crisis.

The government said the setting up of the Chief Wole Olanipekun-led visitation panel which recommended auditing of the university, is a bold step taken by the Osun and Oyo State governments to ensure a lasting solution to the crisis.

Based on the recommendation, the state government said the two owner states engaged the service of KPMG to audit the university accounts, disclosing that ‘internal enemies’ in the institution are frustrating the auditing exercise.

It maintained that despite the resolve of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Abiola Ajimobi of Osun and Oyo states to bring lasting solution to the institution crisis, some members of staff and management are sabotaging the efforts.

The Osun government commended Ajimobi’s administration for its understanding and commitment to bringing LAUTECH back to life.

According to the commissioner; “While ventures in other institutions thrive, that of LAUTECH is dead. TETFUND and Needs Assessment Funds running into billions have been given to LAUTECH without commensurate research output to show for it.

“Right-thinking members of the society should please prevail on LAUTECH management and staff to allow owner governments to do the right thing – proper auditing which invariably will ensure proper running of the institution and make it responsive to the essence of its establishment.”