The proposed Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology (Amendment) bill, 2019, sent to the Ogun State House of Assembly by Governor Dapo Abiodun is meant to address issues surrounding the eventual take off of the new institution without sacrificing the academic programme of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic.
The Assembly Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, who stated this while receiving the Executive members of Abeokuta Club led by Engr. Tokunbo Odebunmi on a courtesy call at the assembly Complex, Oke- Mosan, Abeokuta.
He explained that the present administration sought the amendment of the existing MAUSTECH law, 2017 through the State Assembly with a view to ensuring that the students running different programmes in the old MAPOLY were allowed to conclude their academic programmes.
The Speaker, in company of seven other honourable members, noted that as at now, there is no accreditation of courses yet for the new university by the National Universities Commission, (NUC) no activities of any sort, saying that there was nothing like relocation of the new university from Egbaland as being speculated, rather the two institutions would be accorded opportunity to co-exist to ensure smooth take off.
Earlier in his presentation, the President of Abeokuta Club, Engr. Odebunmi said what happened recently on the issue of MAUTECH was as a result of communication gap, as the club is non-partisan, consisting of responsible citizens with the Governor Dapo Abiodun as its Patron.
Odebunmi said the Club was always in support of government policies and programmes and had no cause to go against the government, rather it paid the visit to the assembly to inform Government on the need to retain the two institutions in Abeokuta.
According to him, statistics showed that less than 25% of applicants of the State origin secured admission into higher institutions nationwide annually, hence, the need to support the establishments of more tertiary institutions in the State.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, has said that the 8th Assembly acted within the ambit of the law, as Section 39 of the Local Government Law, 2000 as well as Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as Amended gave the Assembly the legal backing for the resolution calling for their suspension of the Chairmen and Councillors in all the Local Government Councils and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
Oluomo, who spoke during an interview in Abeokuta, disclosed that the Assembly received petitions bordering on financial mismanagement and abuse of power as well as counter accusations against some of the council helmsmen, hence the need to investigate the series of complaints and petitions against them.
He pointed out that the ninth Assembly under his leadership had resolved to look into the various allegations leading to their suspension having directed the Council and LCDA Chairmen to submit their financial reports to the Assembly for assessment and appear in person before the Assembly on scheduled date next month to clear air on allegations against them.
Speaking on the Local Government autonomy, the Speaker disclosed though, the 8th Legislature of Ogun supported the Local Government autonomy in the last constitution amendment of the fourth alteration of the 1999 Constitution exercise by the National Assembly last year, but it suffered a major setback as it could not get the required two-third of State houses of Assembly, (twenty-four States) from the thirty-six Houses of Assembly across the nation.
He added that it was within the powers of the legislature to review the annual fiscal estimate of government before approval by means of addition or removal to allow for even distribution of developmental projects, adding that the constitution empowered the State legislatures to perform their oversight function on Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government with a view to ensuring judicious spending of government fund as appropriated in the appropriation law approved by them.
He assured of harmonious relationship with other arms of government for the overall socio-economic development of the State, while stressing that plans were underway by the present administration to provide necessary logistics and support for security formations towards addressing security challenges especially kidnapping, cultism and illegal invasion of farmlands by herdsmen.
Packaged by Hazeez Ayansola
