Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has urged members of the newly inaugurated governing councils of the six state-owned tertiary institutions to come up with creative ideas that will add value and turn around the fortunes of the institutions.
The governor spoke yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital, while inaugurating the councils, which his administration appointed on January 9.
The six government-owned tertiary institutions are: The Polytechnic, Ibadan; Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo; Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora; The Ibarapa Polytechnic, Eruwa; The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki and College of Education, Lanlate.
They have been on indefinite strike since November 2, last year, over salary arrears and the reduction of their subvention by 25 per cent.
Ajimobi urged members of the new governing councils to demonstrate creativity and commitment that would add value and bring a new lease of life to the institutions.
He said: “Our institutions have been bedevilled by lots of challenges, which are not from us as a government… We have carefully selected you, having found you to be men and women of proven integrity to add value to our institutions.
“I know all of you by your professionalism, value and competence. We believe in your ability to reposition the institutions. There is no doubt in my mind that you all are equal to the task, and you will make a difference.”
On salary arrears, which led to the closure of the institutions by the workers’ unions, Ajimobi said his administration was not responsible for the payment of salaries but had been “magnanimous in giving quarterly subventions to the institutions”.