Oyo state Governor Abiola Ajimobi has charged members of the newly inaugurated governing council for the six state owned tertiary institutions to come up with creative ideas that would add value and turn around the fortune of the institutions.
The governor gave the charge at the Executive Chamber of his office while inaugurating the councils, following their appointment which was announced on Tuesday, January 9.
The six government owned tertiary institutions including, The Polytechnic, Ibadan; Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo; Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora; The Ibarapa Polytechnic, Eruwa; The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, and College of Education, Lanlate have been on indefinite strike since November 2 over issues bothering on salary arrears and reduction of subvention to the institutions to 25 percent.
The Nation quoted Ajimobi has urging the new appointees to demonstrate creativity and commitment aimed at adding value that would bring new lease of life to the institutions, saying “our institutions have been bedeviled by lots of challenges which are not from us as a government but the present challenges.
“We have carefully selected you, having found you to be men and women of proven integrity to add value to our institutions.
“I know all of you by your professionalism, value and competence. We believe in your ability to reposition the institutions. There is no doubt in my mind that you all are equal to the task and will make a difference”
Clearing the air on the issue of salary arrears that have led to the closure of the institutions by the workers unions, Ajimobi said government was not responsible for the payment of salaries but has been “magnanimous in giving quarterly subventions to the institutions.”
He urged the governing councils and management of the institutions to work out survival strategies by diversifying out of the traditional source of revenue.
“We have employed KPMG Advisory Service to audit the institutions. KPMG in its report has advised that some institutions were unsustainable and some should be close down.
“I charge you to come forth with ideas that will add value and bring a new lease of life to the institutions. We are hopeful that government could review its reduction in subvention as the economy becomes more buoyant,” he said.
The governor said that the country today was training clerks and not technological staff or entrepreneurs, saying such was the reason for the establishment of Technical University, Ibadan to make a difference.
Ajimobi said that the institution has commenced academic activities with much emphasis on technology and entrepreneurship.
Chairman, Governing Council of the Polytechnic Ibadan, Prof. I.A Adeyemi who spoke on behalf of the newly inaugurated councils appreciated the governor for the careful and meticulous selection assuring that they would not let the governor by putting in their best and more so to prove they were men and women of proven integrity.
“We hope to build strategic idea to bring solutions to the challenges bedeviling the institutions. I assure you that we have already started the efforts here. We should be able to come up with a strategic plan for each institution that will bring about the desired development and expected difference,” he said.
The event was attended by members of the state executive council and heads of the various institutions.
