OAU SUG notice to students

We write formally to update union members and the general public on the outcome of recent engagements and hardwork of the leadership of the Union with the University Management, following escalating concerns over the ongoing transportation crisis and other pressing welfare issues affecting students.

After a series of meetings with the management since the first week the new system was implemented which all yielded no progressive resolution, the Union wrote to the Vice-Chancellor on Wednesday, requesting a direct meeting to seek decisive intervention. This request culminated in a meeting held yesterday between the Union leadership and the University Management led by the Vice Chancellor.

TRANSPORTATION CRISIS

The Union unequivocally presented the worsening condition of the newly implemented transportation system, which has, over the past three weeks, imposed severe hardship on students such as physical exhaustion, lateness to academic activities, and heightened frustration across campus.

Despite these concerns, the Management did not provide a clear or immediate solution to alleviate the burden. The Vice-Chancellor emphasized the need for patience and reiterated that maintaining the aesthetic integrity of Road 1, described as the “image of the University”, precludes the return of townboro buses into the campus. As an alternative, Management proposed sourcing private investors to introduce new buses into the system.

The Union leadership firmly communicated that students have exercised considerable patience in the interest of institutional progress, but that patience has now been exhausted. We stressed that the current situation has reached a critical tipping point and is now volatile, and failure to implement immediate, practical relief measures may result in widespread unrest. We stressed that we cannot continue to be patient especially as the safety of Union leaders can no longer be guaranteed, as many students now believe the leadership is not doing enough.⸻

PROPOSED EVACUATION OF AWO HALL (BLOCKS 7 AND 8)

On the directive for occupants of Blocks 7 and 8 of Awolowo Hall to vacate mid-semester for renovations, Management claimed that the project is funded through a time-sensitive TETFUND fund, which must be utilized within a stipulated period. The Union categorically rejected the implementation of such an evacuation without adequate notice, proper planning, or the provision of alternative accommodation for affected students. We maintained that displacing students in the middle of an academic session is both impractical and unjustifiable especially with the worsening transport crisis.

The students eportal upgrade by the ICT unit of the school has been going on for a while now and the Union reiterated the fault in upgrading the portal mid session as despite being in the 4th week of the rain semester, students have not been able to register courses nor view results from last semester. The Director of ICT replied, explaining that the upgrade has been proposed for a while now and they just had to commence after the end of last semester and that at the time of the meeting, the portal is almost ready with just little programming regarding school fees and results left to be completed. He promised that the new portal will be completed and available for efficient use within 72 hours.

The leadership of the Union remains committed to the peace and stability of our University community. However, we cannot continue to watch students suffer unnecessarily. We have demonstrated good faith and patience. The ball is now in the court of the University management to provide concrete, workable, and immediate solutions to the transportation crisis and reverse the ill-timed evacuation of Awo Hall blocks WITHIN THE NEXT 48 HOURS after which a congress to formally propose a clear way forward will be convened.

We call on all students to remain calm, law-abiding, and united as we continue to engage management. We advise that any spontaneous action must be guided by the leadership of the Union and supported by the congress. The Union leadership remains available for further dialogue and expects a prompt and favorable response from the Vice Chancellor on all the issues raised.