Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Tuesday said the state was
technically insolvent.
Makinde made the declaration while receiving in audience members
of the Governing Council of the University of Ibadan, led by the
Pro-Chancellor of the institution and Chairman of Council, Dr
Waklek Mutka, who were on a courtesy visit to his office in
Ibadan.
He said, “When I came in, we were looking for ways to keep the
government running because technically the government of Oyo State
is bankrupt.
“If I take it as a private entity, I won’t lend a dime to the
government of Oyo State. I will ask them to start winding up
proceedings. So, we have been looking for ways to keep the
government running.
“We have been beaming our searchlight on areas we can get money.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue came to me and said they had issue
of PAYE with the University of Ibadan.”
He added, “At the governor’s forum, I saw a document where many
of the states got huge refund from PAYE due to the federal
institutions located in such states. I believe Ogun State got about
N8bn; another state in the South West got N10bn; and Oyo State got
only about N91m.
“Then, I wondered what was going on here. They told me there was
work in progress and that they had been talking but did not have
cooperation from the University of Ibadan.
“I can give you the assurance that this is something for the
Federal Government to refund to us. All we need to do here is open
the books and see what has gone on and have an agreement. I told
the chairman of Bureau of Internal Revenue that he and I will meet
with the University of Ibadan to get money. We will utilise such
money immediately to do things that will lift our environment.”
Makinde, however, stated his administration’s determination to
collaborate with the university in the area of Public Private
Partnership to create a synergy between the institution and the
government.
“The university is a very important member of this community. We
will like to collaborate with the university, especially in the
area of Public Private Partnership and for us, there should be a
serious synergy between the academia and the government because
majority of very good research outcomes stay on the shelf in the
university. We want those to come out for us to work together to
utilise those research outcomes to better the lives of our people,”
he said.
Earlier in his remark, the Pro-Chancellor of the university and
Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr Waklek Mutka, expressed
appreciation to the governor for donating N25m towards the
rehabilitation of facilities in the institution destroyed by
rainstorm on March 9 even as a governor-elect then.
“Your magnanimity is unprecedented and we believe the university
will continue to enjoy the full support of the government. It is
hoped that your administration will ensure that we have an
environment that will guarantee peace and stability,” he said.