By Dipo Olowookere
The lingering crisis at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State may soon be over.
Governor of the state, Mr Abiola Ajimobi, has revealed that he was working tirelessly to ensure the school is reopened latest by the end of January.
Mr Ajimobi dropped the hint in a statement by his Special Adviser Communication and Strategy, Mr Yomi Layinka, after a meeting with the national, zonal and state leadership of the students’ unions in his office, on Friday evening.
The Governor said that the decision was reached after another round of discussions by the stakeholders on Friday afternoon, including his Osun State counterpart, Mr Rauf Aregbesola and LAUTECH’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adeniyi Gbadegesin, aimed at finding a lasting solution to the debacle.
“With today’s pronouncement, it is hoped that all stakeholders including the management, staff and students of LAUTECH will begin to put adequate machinery in place preparatory to full resumption of academic and non-academic activities in the university,” the Governor said.
The university had been grounded for close to eight months due to the strike action by the academic and non-academic staff of the university over unpaid salaries and emoluments.
Before Friday’s meeting, representatives of both states met in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, to discuss ways to resolve the crisis.
Oyo and Osun States are joint owners of LAUTECH.
Modupe Gbadeyanka