UI Appeals To Students Over Protest

UI Appeals To Students Over Protest

The management of the University of Ibadan in Oyo State has met with students of the institution over a series of protests in the last two days.

The meeting was connected with the protests embarked upon by the students over the introduction of a 10-hour daily electricity supply in the campus. 

It was reported that the management met with the students led by President of the Students’ Union, Mr Bolaji Aweda on Wednesday.

Aweda listed a number of complaints on behalf of his colleagues.

He maintained that the students were protesting the rationing of electricity on campus, hike in fees, sale of handouts, GES textbooks being made compulsory, poor welfare conditions, poor attention being given in the UHS, victimisation of students who earlier in the year protested the hike in fees, and inadequate security for the lives of the students on the campus.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the institution, Professor Peter Olapegba, who spoke on behalf of the management during the meeting with the students, noted that the new policy became necessary due to the monthly electricity bill it was paying to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC.

He said the university pays over N80 million monthly for electricity, adding that the intention of the IBEDC to move the school to Band A would mean that it would now pay N280 million monthly for electricity.

He said security was a national problem, and the University was trying its best to secure the lives and property of students and staff on the campus.

Olapegba then used the opportunity to appeal to the students to cooperate with the management to make the campus conducive for all and sundry.

He assured that the management would do its best to address the issues raised within its available resources.

He commended the students for keeping their protest within the University campus and not allowing hoodlums to hijack it.