The Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has been charged by the state’s House of Assembly to save public schools from the nefarious activities of land grabbers.

The House urged the governor to take proactive and decisive steps towards addressing the menace of land grabbers encroaching on lands belonging to public schools across the state.

 

The call was contained in a motion moved by the lawmaker representing Oluyole state constituency, Hon. Waheed Akintayo.

 

While presenting the motion, the lawmaker observed indiscriminate erection of kiosks on the lands in the premises of some public schools in the state.

 

He described the situation as disheartening, saying that it makes the environment not conducive for teaching and learning activities.

 

According to Hon. Akintayo, “It is disheartening to state that virtually all public schools’ lands in the state have been encroached upon by some unscrupulous individuals leaving the schools environment not conducive for learning.

 

“Government over the years has paid lip service to the issue of encroachment of landed properties. Most of these schools have been so bastardized to the extent that the proliferation of illegal structures, be it residential or commercial, have taken three quarter or half possession of some lands belonging to public schools in the state.” He revealed

 

The House has, however enjoined the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology,  the state Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to collaborate with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development and Office of Surveyor -General to set up inter-ministerial committee and look into the original master plans or designs of some of the encroached public schools lands and others with a view to erecting perimeter fencing, beacons or corner pieces.

 

In addition, the House also directed the state Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to expedite action in clearing of shops and kiosks around public schools premises across the state.