Oyo State House of Assembly has passed into law a bill to affirm the sole ownership and management of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, by the Oyo State government.
The bill christened Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso Bill 2020 was passed into law during Monday plenary after the clause by clause consideration by the lawmakers.
But, the issue of the multi-campus structure canvassed by the state government generated a heated debate among the lawmakers during the consideration of the report on the bill presented by the House Committee on Education, Science and Technology.
It would be recall that during the first and second reading of the bill last week, the issue of establishment of the University’s Campuses in some towns and cities was opposed by lawmakers of Ogbomoso descent who argued that what the Institution required at the moment was improvement on its infrastructure as well as teaching and learning.
Of particular concern to the lawmakers were some clauses which were either inserted or omitted in the committee report.
The situation led the Speaker of the Assembly, Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin to rule that the bill be subjected to a clause by clause consideration by the entire Assembly at the day’s plenary.
While the principal bill provides for the establishment of campuses/colleges/faculties in other towns and cities in the state, members had wondered why three was the inclusion of the clause, “as it may be deemed necessary” in the committee report presented.
Lawmakers including the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Abiodun Fadeyi and Honourable Dele Adeola of Iseyin/Itesiwaju constituency argued that the inclusion of such clause made the creation of multi-campus discretionary, Honourables Sanjo Adedoyin of Ogbomoso South and Wumi Oladeji of Ogbomoso North held that the clause was not ambiguous and should be retained.
With the session toeing the line of for and against multi-campus, Speaker Ogundoyin cautioned members against arguing based on their political or geographical zone leaning.
He consequently subjected the need to expunge the clause, “as it may be deemed necessary” to voice vote with those in support of the removal sounding highest.
Ruling in favour of multi-campus for LAUTECH, Ogundoyin gave instances of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, which also had other campuses yet the standard of the institution was not diminished, as feared for LAUTECH in some quarters.
Among others, the law stipulates that the institution has power to hold and dispose of movable and immovable property as well as offer academic, professional, diploma, first degree, postgraduate degree programmes.
The law further empowers the university to offer academic and professional programmes that revolve around planning, adaptive, technical maintenance, engineering, scientific, agricultural, medical and allied professional disciplines.
From five years, the bill was amended to mandate the visitor to the university to visit the institution at least once in four years.
Recall that during the first and second reading of the bill last week, the issue of establishment of the University’s Campuses in some towns and cities was opposed by Lawmakers of Ogbomoso descent who argued that what the Institution required at the moment was improvement on its infrastructure as well as teaching and learning.
The new law has repealed the LAUTECH Law contained in Cap 67, Laws of Oyo State.
With the passage of the bill, provision has now been made for the sole ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH Ogbomoso by Oyo State.
Some other provisions of the new bill include, that the Oyo State Governor is now the visitor to the University, that the University shall establish other campusess or colleges in other towns or cities in the State and that the University shall have a Council which shall consist of Principal officers.
