Reps want NUC to address lingering dispute over LAUTECH

THE House of Representatives on Wednesday resolved to investigate the reported prevention of candidates by students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology from writing Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination on their campus.

The House resolution followed a motion sponsored by Hon. Odebunmi Olusegun Dokun on the need to intervene and help the helpless students.

To this end, the House mandated the Committee on Tertiary Education and Services to interface with the JAMB leadership on the need to arrange an alternative date for the affected candidates to write their examination.

The House also resolved to engage the National Universities Commission (NUC) to find a lasting solution to the lingering dispute between the two owner States as well as other internal crisis in the University and report back in four (4) weeks for further legislative action.

The lawmaker while moving his motion said that the incidence happened when prospective candidates for admissions into universities and other tertiary institutions are currently writing the Computer Based Test (CBT) being organized by the JAMB.

According to him, “Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso is one of the centers designated for candidates to write the examination which ensures proximity to the examination center for candidates from Ogbomoso and its environs.”

Speaking further, he said that the JAMB examination candidates were prevented when, “students of Ladoke Akintola University locked up the gate to the institution while embarking on a protest, thereby preventing candidates from entering the University to write  the examination, an action that cast a pall on the educational future of the candidates.

He however said that, the “action of the students of the University was borne out of long standing disagreement between the Governments of Oyo and Osun States over ownership and management of the University, a situation that has led to perpetual suspension of academic activities at the institution and put the future of the students and others who depend on the institution for sustenance at great jeopardy.”

The motion scaled through when it was put to voice vote by the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara.