The Government of the State of Osun has described the comments by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on the running of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) that tended to suggest that Osun has abandoned payment of workers of the institution as a product of misinformation.
It said to the contrary, the state has always been alive to its responsibility with regard to its obligations to LAUTECH despite the obvious lopsidedness in the distribution of infrastructure between the two owner states.
A statement from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prince Wole Oyebamiji, on Tuesday, noted that Osun has never defaulted in the payment of salaries of workers in both the university and the Teaching Hospital in Osogbo.
It added that in 2017 alone, while Oyo contributed N717, 888, 795.00, Osun contributed N1, 292, 000, 000.00. In 2018, Oyo contributed N443, 865,554.00; Osun contributed N500, 000,000.
The government was however quick to add that in addition to contributing regularly to LAUTECH in Ogbomoso, as indicated above, Osun State alone has been responsible for paying the salaries of workers at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, from 2013 to date, amounting to N16, 369, 953, 830.48.
For instance, from January to June this year, while Oyo had paid about N1.1billion to the university, Osun on the other hand had paid about N1.7 billion from January to July this year to LAUTECH Teaching Hospital. This is in addition to the N300million it released to the university in July.
“Effectively, what this implies is that while Osun had cumulatively spent about N2billion on the institution from January to date, Oyo had only spent a little over N1billion.
“From the foregoing, who has defaulted? Rather than attempt to vilify our government, we should be commended. The university is a joint responsibility. Whatever decision that needs to be taken on its future must be mutually agreed upon.
“Again, for emphasis, we are committed to the joint ownership of LAUTECH and we will never shy away from our responsibilities, just as we will never sacrifice the future of the students of the university on the altar of partisan politics,” the government added.
