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Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, yesterday
constituted the governing council of the Ondo State University of
Science and Technology (OSUTECH) with a promise to start operation at a
temporary site.

The Governor also said he would ensure that the institution becomes one of the best in science and technology in the country.

He noted that his administration would not allow its
commitment to the new university to affect the spate of development in
other institutions in the country.

While calling for cooperation among host communities
of the university, Mr. Mimiko said there could be no progress in an
environment of rancour .

He pointed out that with the caliber of people that
made up the governing council, the institution would be transformed
into a world class in a matter of time.

“If we cannot start the institution at the permanent
site, I can assure you that the institution will kick- off at the
temporary site. Our administration is committed to the development of
education”.

The National Universities Commission (NUC), had
withdrawn the operational license of the institution because of
concerns about the school’s academic performance and admissions
policies.

The Institution had not commenced academic activities
since it was formally recognised in 2008 and all application forms of
the school’s candidates had been sent to be absorbed by the nearby
Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko.

The school was set up by the Agagu-led government to
pacify the people from his area who were clamouring for the
establishment of a tertiary institution in their constituency.

Mr. Mimiko, however, said that his administration
would not go into negotiations with the striking unions in the state
owned Polytechnic, known as Rufus Giwa polytechnics Owo.

According to him, government will not enter into
negotiations with the unions because their demands were unnecessary at
this period.

He noted that despites assurances given to the unions in the institution, they have failed to reason with government.

“We will not enter into any negotiations with the
striking workers. If they like they should resume. They are demanding
for a new pay rise which has not been effected by any state,” Mr.
Mimiko added.

Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic [ASUP] and the
Non-Academic Staff Union [NASU] of the institution had few months ago
embarked on an indefinite strike over the failure of the state
government to effect the payment of their monetization arrears by the
college’s management.

At a round table discussion organized by the state
government, The polytechnic workers rejected the government offer on
the basis that their counterparts at the sister Adekunle Ajasin
University [AAU] Akungba-Akoko are enjoying the full payment of the
monetization since April.

The workers had insisted on full payment of 53.7
percent monetization, but the state government resolved on 35 percent.
In his speech, the chancellor of the institution, the Olugbo of Ugbo
kingdom, Federick Eniti Akinrutan urged indigenes of the university
community to contribute their quota to the development of the
institution.

Mr. Akinrutan said the state government that the
governing council of the institution would work assiduously towards the
development of the institution.