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There is a better alternative for you –Authority
If preventive measure is not taken urgently, the students of University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo State, may embark on a protest, which may disrupt the academic calendar of the institution.
The looming protest by students will be in reaction against the recent ban, by the university authority, on the use of electric cooking gadgets, including boiling rings and stoves, by students living on campus. National Mirror gathered that the cooking activities of resident students often leads to the high consumption of energy as a result of electric gadgets they use.
It was also gathered that the authority was dissatisfied with the practice because of the ever increasing electricity bill the school settles on monthly basis, with the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). As a result of this, the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole, at a recent stakeholders’ forum, involving management team, student union leaders and other interest groups on campus, announced the ban on cooking in hostels.
It was gathered that the meeting was held in preparation for the commencement of the 2012/2013 academic session due for next week. National Mirror further gathered that students were, however, not happy about the development, although a majority of them are still away on Christmas break. In their recent bulletin, the students stated that they could not afford to patronise the school’s food cafeteria even if the foods are sold at subsidized rate due to the fact that many of them are from financially disadvantaged homes. They said they would prefer to cook by themselves on campus.
To show they really mean business, they have equally adopted another method to express their displeasures over the development, which they also condemn in its entirety. This time around, they are making use of the social media tool-Facebook- entitled: “UI Students Union Facebook Page,” to express their displeasures.
A former students’ leader of the university, Tokunbo Salako, for instance, has, on the Facebook page, insisted that students of the institution would have to carry on with cooking on campus, giving the economic implication of doing otherwise. He explained that, there were six federal universities in the South-West region and while checking out the amount of money students in these schools pay for a bed space on campus, he discovered that UI accommodation fee is among the highest.
Salako continuing: “Federal University, Oye Ekiti, is newly established; for Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, a bed space cost N18,000 and students are allowed to cook in their hostels; at Federal University of Technology, Akure students pay N8,090 and still cooking, at University of Lagos, Akoka, a bed space cost N18,000 and students are cooking; it is N3,090 that students are paying for a bed space in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and they are cooking. Why then we in University of Ibadan that are paying N14, 000 won’t be allowed to cook? We must cook.”
Reacting on Tuesday, the university’s Vice- Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole through the institution’s spokesman, Mr. Tunji Oladejo told National Mirror that the university had a better plan for the students. He said from all indications, the school authorities were not considering the increment in accommodation fee, at least, as of now, as students are being speculated.
To prove to students that he meant his words on the matter, the VC asked both new and returning students to disregard any information contrary to the payment of the existing N14, OOO accommodation fee per bed space charged annually. He said although, there was no subvention for students’ accommodation on campus in any of the federal universities in the country, including UI, the institution was, in its magnanimity, subsidising the accommodation fees for students annually.
While admitting that the subsidy had become a big burden to the university, the VC explained that the stakeholders’ meeting also arrived at some other issues that would make living on campus more conducive for students.
According to him, it has been resolved at the meeting that henceforth, the administration of halls of residence would be carried out by the Hall Management Committee which has been empowered to take over the total management of hostels, including the payment of electricity bills, cleaning and repair works carried out in various hostels. He added that where there were none, hostels would now be equipped with kitchenettes while cooking remains banned in the rooms.
Continuing, the VC said: “As a way of boosting the provision of decent meals on campus, the university has resuscitated the cafeteria system, which will allow for competent caterers to provide, in hygienic environment, good meals and at affordable prices for students.
In this regards, the students have been warned not to bring electric stoves, popularly known in the university community as hotplates, to the Halls of Residence again. And to also check the high electricity bill, each Kitchenette would be provided with pre-paid meters so as to regulate energy consumption in hostels.
He, however, noted that the university, would at least, use the new academic session, to experiment the workability of cafeteria and kitchenette systems before all the interest groups on the matters would then meet for a review. “Electricity consumption is a major challenge in Halls of Residence and has gulped the university’s limited fund,” he lamented.
On security, the VC reiterated the university’s commitment to provide adequate security in the hostels and elsewhere on campus and part of the measures to achieve this, according to him, was the perimeter fence to be erected around each hall of residence.
He added that students were being carried along in decision making processes, especially on issues that bother on their welfare. He therefore advised the students to reciprocate the gesture by complying with rules and regulations of the university as doing otherwise would be treated as misconduct and culprits would be appropriately dealt with through the Students’ Disciplinary Committee.
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Author: TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE AND LINUS KINGDOM
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