The Oyo State Government has earmarked a N136 million grant for upgrade of infrastructure at the College of Education, Lanlate, Ibarapa East Local Government Area (LGA).
Gov. Seyi Makinde announced the grant when he visited the institution while on a tour of the LGA in Lanlate on Friday.
According to him, N36 million will be released as capital expenditure for development of infrastructure, while N100 million will serve as take-off grant to address other challenges of the institution.
“Out of the N100 million take-off grant, N50 million will be released immediately and the remaining N50 million will be released in the second half of the year,” he said.
The governor said he was undertaking on-the-spot assessment of the challenges and the issues facing the institution, which were not allowing it to fulfil its mandate.
He said that his government remained committed to addressing the challenges of the institution and was not ready to play politics with the future of the students.
Makinde appealed to staff of the institution to call off the ongoing strike in the interest of the students and the entire workers.
He urged the members of staff to show understanding and commitment, assuring them that his government would do all within its capacity to address the arrears owed them from 2011.
The governor said that his administration remained focused on fixing the infrastructure deficit in every zone of the state.
He said that the state government would work with the Ibarapa East Local Government authority to embark on rehabilitation of the Eruwa-Maya road, to open it up for development.
Makinde said that there was a nexus between good infrastructure, secure environment and development.
The Governing Council Chairman of the institution, Dr Bisi Ojebola, appreciated the Makinde-led administration for the support the college had been receiving in terms of release of subventions.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Makinde and top government functionaries were hosted by the traditional ruler of Lanlate, Oba Bolawaye Oladejo, and the member representing Ido/Ibarapa East Federal Constituency, Mr Yemi Taiwo, during the visit.(NAN)
