Protest: UI bars students from campus as parents, stakeholders hold parley

…As VC appeals to staff over personnel cost shortfall

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NIGERIA: AUTHORITIES of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, has warned students of the university to keep off from the campus, particularly on Tuesday when the parents/stakeholders forum will hold.

The university said that due to the fact that the students, who protested recently and were sent home, were yet to be recalled back to campus they should distanced themselves from the venue of the parley.

The decision was contained in a release entitled “Towards re-opening of University of Ibadan parents/stakeholders’ forum” and signed by the university’s Registrar, Olujimi Olukoya.

“We specially covet your presence and valuable input at this important meeting,” Olukoya said, adding: “Kindly note

that students are yet to be recalled and as such should still stay away from the campus.”

The meeting, scheduled for 11am at Trenchard Hall, would deliberate on the crisis that rocked the university and ways to prevent recurrence.

“Following the recent development that led to students being advised to vacate the campus, the Management, Senate and Council of the University of Ibadan, have at various levels been deliberating on ways to address this problem with a view to finding lasting solution and ensuring resumption as soon as possible,” the Registrar explained.

He explained that parents and other stakeholders in the university project are expected to attend the forum.

Only recently, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka, commended the workers for their patience over the shortfall in the personnel cost since last December.

“The management of the university and the leaders of the staff unions, namely ASUU, SSANU, NAAT and NASU, have had to meet many times to deliberate on the challenges of paying salaries in view of the short fall of the personnel costs, since December 2015 which coincided with my assumption of office as Vice-Chancellor,” Olayinka.

He explained: “I have been extremely concerned, particularly because of the sharp rise in the cost of living in the country owing to several complications arising from fluctuations in the price of crude oil at the global market and diverse change of policy at the national level.”

Olayinka, in a press release, expressed appreciation to the staff for the pains they are going through, adding that everything is being done to solve the situation.

“The Honourable Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, convened an interactive session at the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, on Friday, 3rd June 2016, to discuss, among other items, the issue of funding that all Federal Universities have had to contend with in recent months,” he further explained.

He added: “The Honourable Minister said he was aware that most of the universities have shortages in their personnel costs for some months.

“He added that discussion has reached conclusion stage with the Accountant General of the Federation with regards to offsetting the backlog of the shortfall and correcting the subsequent warrants of the personnel cost.

“From his assertions, we were able to deduce that the Federal Government is aware of the shortfalls in our personnel costs and making efforts to pay the arrears of shortfall in our personnel cost from December 2015 till date.

“I greatly appreciate your understanding, diligence to your various assignments and continued support on this matter.  I wish to, once again, appeal to all members of staff to continue to exercise patience on this matter.”

Olayinka stressed: “Efforts are also being made to resolve the recent crisis by students which led to the suspension of lectures and their being asked to vacate the campus. There is surely light at the end of this dark tunnel!”