As the 2012/2013 academic session begins at the University of Ibadan, the management said it has spent over N400 million in the last three years to renovate and maintain Halls of Residence.
This was revealed by the Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. A R A. Alada, during a Town Hall meeting at the Trenchard Hall of the university on Monday.
The Town Hall meeting, which is also a family meeting, is a forum initiated by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole, for staff, students and the University management to discuss pertinent issues confronting the university.
The accommodation for students was one of such issues discussed at length during Monday’s meeting, which is the second since Adewole came into office.
Alada, while presenting the cost of running the university, stated that only one third of the students live in halls of residence, adding that provision of electricity consumes a huge percentage of the university’s fund.
He said: “Only 3,000 out of the 21,000 students in the university, representing just 30 per cent, live in halls of residence but the cost to run and maintain the halls of residence have become exorbitant.
“In 2009-2010 session, over N46 million was spent in renovating our halls of residence; in 2010-2011 session, the University spent about N149 million on halls and from January to October 2012, the university spent N317 million on the halls of residence.
“So in the last three years, the University has spent over N400 million in the running and maintenance of halls of residence and a huge amount goes to electricity consumption.
“When we compare, we find out that the money generated from the halls of residence is about N144 million.
“This means that the university subsidizes accommodation for its students to the tune of N250 million but it is pertinent to know that the Federal Government does not subvent accommodation in UI.
“The Federal government has told UI that it should hands off accommodation and if we are still subsidizing then it is through the magnanimity of the Vice Chancellor but we can’t continue to allow just 30 per cent of the students to enjoy what belongs to all.
“That money can be channelled into research and academic activities for all to enjoy and even if we want to ensure a proper running of our halls of residence, our students should pay between N50,000 and N60,000 for accommodation.”
Adewole stated that all stakeholders in the university should contribute their quota to move it forward.
He expressed worry over indiscipline among students and warned that the university of Ibadan will not condone any unruly behaviour.
He said: “From all our meetings with the students, we discovered that the students are not interested in academics but only in their accommodation.
“Like the Dean of Students said, the Federal Government is not giving us money to run the halls of residence.
“We sent a team, which included students representatives, to visit four universities to see how they run their halls of residence.
“They came up with a report that the halls of residence should be run by facility managers and option two is the fees should be increased.
“But in our wisdom, after much consultation, we decided not to increase accommodation fee but we said for this session, we should experiment by setting up a Hall Management Committee to oversee the running of the halls.
“We also resuscitated the cafeteria system and we will provide electric cookers, stoves and fridges in the kichenettes.
“We will also install prepaid meters to monitor the electricity consumption so that we can have a data to tell us this is what we are spending on electricity.
“No student is allowed to bring their cooker.
“This is for this session.
“Then at the end of the session, we will sit down and review our experiment and if there is the need to increase accommodation fee, we will do that but for this session, accommodation fee remains N14,000.”
The students were given the opportunity to speak on the issues confronting them.
Majority want the university management to allow them bring their cookers and kerosene stoves.
The President of the Student Union, Edosa Ekator, also presented the decision of the students congress, which also wants the university management to allow them prepare their own meal.
Ekator said: “The cookers the school authority will provide will not be enough for all the students and we ask that we be allowed to bring our own cookers and kerosene stoves.
“We are also saying no to prepaid metres in our halls of residence.”
Adewole, while reacting to the students’ demands, stated that the university will provide enough cookers in the kichenettes to cater for the students light cooking.
He said: “The ban on cooker is non negotiable and this is because we will put quality affordable cafeteria system in place for the students.
“We will provide enough cookers and electricity stoves so the issue of feeding will be taken care of.
“Students are free to report any erring lecturer or staff.
“We have various committees and they should feel free to report.”
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