Innocent BenjaminOyo State-based Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) has had its tuition fees slashed by a significant 25 percent by the state governor, Seyi Makinde, in an announcement on Tuesday.
The governor disclosed this in a briefing during an unscheduled visit to Ogbomosho where the institution is located, confirming that the reduction is applicable to every student in the institution irrespective of ethnicity, discipline or status.
These sentiments where relayed in a statement conveyed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Taiwo Adisa, quoting Makinde’s gratitude to the students for their warm reception despite the extemporaneous nature of the visit.
“I am glad to be back among you. After the 2019 election, I should have returned to say thanks to you but I didn’t want to come until I fulfill what I promised you, which is the sole ownership of LAUTECH by Oyo State,” said the governor.
“I am still coming back to spend the night here and we will really celebrate then but I can leave you with a parting gift for today. Let me tell you, the LAUTECH fee is still the lowest in the entire South-West.
“Having said that, I will reduce your fee across board; whether indigenes or non-indigenes, even new students. There will be a reduction of 25 per cent across board.”
According to the governor, putting a halt to the molestations, robberies and murder spree inflicted on students was a key part of his electioneering campaign. And his blueprint to solving this predication was to install street lights on the Under-G/ Stadium Road.
The governor expressed delight at the completion of this project and pointed to its current utilisation by students. He also vowed to ensure that a regular four-year academic course in LAUTECH will be completed in due time and “never” extended as is common of tertiary institutions across the federation.
“Again, if you remember, during my electioneering campaign in 2019, I promised you that we will fix Under-Stadium road so that none of our students will get killed on the main road,” he continued
“Now, the road is fixed and you have the street light installed. The securing of the sole ownership of the University means never again will a four-year programme turn into an 8-year programme in LAUTECH.”
He sweetened the pot at the end of his statement by promising to construct a standard flyover in Ogbomosho so as to meet the growing demands of students and residents alike.
His promises, however, were not limited to students alone as he also gave much-needed reassurances to the 170 re-engage staff of the Teaching Hospital who were relived of their employment by the previous administration, that a complete payment of their five-month salary arrears was on the card.
The 53-year-old politician was elected into the Office of the Governor of Oyo State at the 2019 Gubernatorial elections for Oyo State which held on March 9, 2019. Seyi Makinde on 29 May 2019 was sworn in as the 28th executive Governor of Oyo State.
James steller
mitrobe
