The Oyo State House of Assembly has urged the state’s current administration to take proactive and decisive steps to address the menace of land grabbing and encroachment on public schools across the state.
This was declared as part of a motion moved by Hon. Waheed Akintayo, representing Oluyole State Constituency.
Presenting the motion, Hon. Akintayo observed the disheartening situation of some Government Schools’ premises, which are surrounded by the indiscriminate erection of Kiosks, making the environment inconducive to teaching and learning activities.
“It is disheartening to state that virtually all Public School lands in the State had been encroached upon by some unscrupulous individuals leaving the School environment not conducive for learning,” he stated.
“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 public schools ‘lands in the state,” he revealed.
However, the House has enjoined the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to collaborate with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, and the Office of the Surveyor-General to set up an inter-ministerial committee and investigate the original master plans or designs of some of the encroached public school lands and others to erect 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 shops and kiosks around the public school premises across the state.
