PUBLICITY Secretary of the Accord Party (AP) in Oyo state, Engineer Akeem Olatunji has faulted the establishment of the Technical University, Ibadan by Abiola Ajimobi led APC government in the state, saying that the institution is not a priority until LAUTECH is restored to her lost glory.
Olatunji, also noted that Oke-Ogun Zone is the only location that deserves establishment of such an ivory tower in case it is necessary.
According to a press statement issued on Thursday and made available to Mega Icon Magazine, the Party’s mouthpiece described the Oyo State led APC government as a divisive entity that doesn’t take into consideration the configuration of the state.
The statement reads, “Ibadan and other zones jointly owns Oyo State but reverse is the case with the establishment of a Technical University in Ibadan at a time the only government University, LAUTECH, situated outside Ibadan precisely in Ogbomoso is rotten away due to lack of funds.
“If we may ask what’s the rationale behind citing of another university in Ibadan with numerous higher institutions of learning when Okeogun area with 40 percent of Oyo state landmass, 10 local government councils and population next to Ibadan in the state is lacking a University?”.
” It is noteworthy that LAUTECH total tuition fees paid by students from 100 level to 500 level was less than N40,000 throughout their studies while the N6,000 tuition fee was about 54 percent of the then N11,000 minimum wage during former Governor, Rasidi Ladoja’s administration”, the statement added.
Olatunji, however, disclosed that LAUTECH is encountering serious financial problems that has crippled her activities despite paying exorbitant school fees of N65,000 and above under the incumbent government at a time the minimum wage is N18,000.
Also, the Accord spokesman criticised the government for its inability to pay workers’ salaries.
“The parents of the affected students who are workers or pensioners are being owed several months of salaries, while the staffs and lecturers are also passing through hell to survive.
“This is the time for the sons and daughters of OkeOgun, Ibarapa, Oyo and Ogbomosho to realize that APC has nothing to offer them apart from suffering and pains.
“Majority of our people outside Ibadan zone are agrarians and civil servants who depends on salaries for their upkeep but they bear the brunt mostly because they lack industries and business ventures to cushion the effects of non payment of salaries to workers by the state government”.
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