Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has put to rest the speculation that his administration is planning to cancel the establishment of the Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology (MAUTECH).
The Governor said he has no objection to the existence of the institution as the bill sent to the State House of Assembly was to seek for the return of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) assets to enable the school come back to live.
He spoke when members of the Abeokuta Club visited him in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
The Governor said it was unfortunate that MAUTECH, MAPOLY and the Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia, could not commence academic activities as a result of unresolved issues.
“Government intention is transparent on the issue of MAPOLY. We felt it was expedient and important for us to immediately do something so that out of the three institutions at least one will begin to function.
“MAPOLY itself and was never repealed either by accident or by design, but more importantly, all the assets of the school had been invested on MAUTECH, which was not functioning.
The Governor said the bill sent to the House was to asked for the return of MAPOLY assets and not to repeal the University.
Governor Abiodun said repealing MAUTECH law would have amounted to pre- empting Committee set up to look into the establishment of the institution, adding that it was never the thinking of government to do so.
“It did not say anything about repealing MAUTECH, there was no such conception, so when I began to get reactions that l have cancelled MAUTECH, I began to wonder where it was coming from. I need to emphasise that I do not have any objection to MAUTECH.
“When the Committee finishes with its assignment, we know how to take it from there”, the Governor said.
He said it was imperative to reopen the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic as all stakeholders including business owners whose sources of income had been cut off for two years were going through a lot of hardships.
The Governor who took time to intimate the Club members on his government policies and programmes, said he would focus on revamping the health, education, agricultural and infrastructural sectors, while attention would also be given to Security, employment and digitalisation of the State.
He added that his administration always plan ahead and take every section of the State into consideration before taking action, appealing to members of the Club not to hesitate in getting in touch with him whenever issues that needed clarification arise.
Also speaking, the Chairman of MAUTECH, MAPOLY and OGUNPOLY Committee, Professor Segun Awonusi, who reeled out terms of reference of the Committee, said members have started interacting with relevant stakeholders with a view to meeting the submission date of its recommendations.
Speaking earlier, the past President and Trustee of the Club, Prof. Afolabi Soyode, expressed regret that MAPOLY had been in comatose in the last one year, saying this has affected not only the students, parents, staff and other stakeholders but also the local economy.
He said the Club was happy for the setting up of the Committee, but was shocked when a bill was sent to the House to amend the law establishing the Institution.
Soyode said the Club has ascertained that the purported repealing of the University was a rumour, expressing the hope that government would do the needful to get the University back on track.