The Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Ibadan Branch, Dr. Deji Omole, has described the decision of the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, to reduce subvention to tertiary institutions in the state to 25 per cent as unacceptable.

Omole said the government’s decision was an expression of its lack of interest in the future of the state.

Ajimobi had, last week, explained that the rationale behind his administration’s decision to slash subvention to the state-owned tertiary institutions was due to the dwindling financial resources of the state, asking the authorities of the institutions to be more creative.


The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, and the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, are the tertiary institutions owned by the state.

Speaking at the dedication of a multi-million-naira Vice-Chancellor’s Lodge, donated to the Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), the governor said the present economic situation demanded the support of all parents and other stakeholders to fund education in the state.

“We are still supporting the tertiary institutions; we have not cancelled subventions completely. We have reduced it from 100 per cent to 25 per cent. And we see many loopholes and leakages gulping revenue. They should go and plug them. We believe they can raise Internally Generated Revenues through efficient management of their resources,” the governor added.

While the ASUU chairman in UI is not against the governor’s call on the institutions to be creative in the management of the schools, Omole is, however, critical of the governor’s resolve to slash the subvention to 25 per cent.

He said, “Cutting the subvention to 25 per cent is the state government’s way of saying that it is not responsible to the people. How can you say that you will not fund education at this time of economic recession? Research will suffer in these schools just like quality education will suffer. How will the state and the nation develop?

“The decision shows that this government has lost focus. If it cannot fund education, what is it going to fund? As far as ASUU is concerned, the statement is reckless especially when it is clear that campaign during election was heavily funded. They claim to be educated but now they say education must not be funded again when other nations are investing in the education of their youths?”

Lalasticlala

Can you please talk to this man, Haba!!!