EDUCATION: Students protest: UI to remain shut

Students of University of Ibadan, UI, may have to wait another month before returning to school as the school’s Senate has ratified steps taken by the administration towards resolving the crisis. Students of the institution had, for two days last week, protested against the management following what they described as the unlawful rustication of a 400-level Petroleum Engineering student, Tunji Epeti Michael, whom they alleged was punished for participating in a protest over electricity and water scarcity on campus on November 19, 2015.


 However to further halt escalation of the crisis, the school management ordered the indefinite closure of the school. But the students had among others demanded the immediate reopening of the school, unconditional and immediate reinstatement of Michael, quick redress of the water and power distribution on campus, as well as addressing the ‘undue’ placement of fines and harassment of students by porters in the halls of residence. National Mirror learnt that the university debunked the claim of rusticating Michael, stating that nine students were either rusticated, reprimanded or discharged from the Independence Hall for either leading a protest or illegal occupation of the hall.

 It was gathered that an emergency Senate meeting of the university which was presided over by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, ratified the decision of the management to close the school and dialogue with the students while condemning what it called the invasion of the university by students of other institutions with hooded attire. Sources at the meeting disclosed that the Senate stated that Michael was supposed to be at his place of internship for six-months when he allegedly came back to lead a protest in the Independence Hall owing to his political ambition to become the Administrator- General. 

The Vice Chancellor was said to have disclosed that while the university required N80million per month to maintain overhead cost and maintenance of halls of residence, it had only received a total of N42.5 million covering January- April 2016, calling for more funding from the Federal Government. While noting that the immediate reopening of the school was impossible, the source said the Governing Council of the institution that will consider the letter of appeal against Michael’s rustication will only seat on Monday, May 16, and that its decision would be communicated to the Senate. 

While addressing the Senate, the Vice Chancellor was quoted to have said, “I have gone round the halls of residence to ascertain their condition and I know it is not up to the standard our students should be living in. However, what do we do when the money/ overhead cost from the Federal Government falls short of what we need? We presently accommodate about 8,000 students in the halls of residence. There is absolutely nothing we can do without funding.” The VC further stated that it is not feasible to grant an unconditional and immediate reinstatement of Michael, insisting that his appeal would be tabled before the Governing Council of the institution for consideration.