UI VC rejects increase in hostel fees

As the 2012/2013 academic session at the University of Ibadan is scheduled to begin on January 7, 2013, fresh and returning students of the university have been advised to disregard any information urging them to pay more than N14,000 as accommodation fee.
This was the position of the university’s management after a stakeholders’ meeting held with leadership of the Students’ Union at all levels.
The meeting, it was learnt, was held on December 18, 2012.
Though the students’ leadership has agreed to an increase in the accommodation fee from N14,000 to between N20,000 and N22,000 per session, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole, however, stated that the accommodation fee should remain at N14,000.
Adewole further stated that despite the non provision of subvention for accommodation in halls of residence for federal universities, UI has continued to subsidise accommodation fees for its students.
He, however, admitted it has become a big burden.
Adewole said despite the shortage of funds, the accommodation fees for the 2012/2013 academic session would not be increased as being speculated and therefore urged the students to pay N14,000, the amount paid for accommodation the previous session.
Other decisions reached at the meeting included the administration of halls of residence by the Hall Management Committee, which has been empowered to take over total management of the Halls of Residence, including payment for services for electricity, cleaning and repairs.
The Halls of Residence will be equipped with kitchenette, where there are none, as cooking remains banned in the rooms.
As a way of boosting the provision of decent meal on campus, the University has resuscitated the cafeteria system, which will allow for competent caterers to provide decent meals at affordable prices.
In this regard, the students have been warned not to bring cookers, popularly known as hotplates, to the Halls of Residence.
Also in a move to prevent incurring high electricity bills, each kitchenette will be provided with pre-paid meters in order to regulate energy consumption in the Halls of Residence.
In its commitment to provide adequate security in the Halls of Residence, block/perimeter fencing will be erected around the halls.
Students have been urged to visit the university website for the regime of fees for the session.
Adewole said: “The University Management has decided not to increase accommodation fee for this session.
“We will experiment with this for this session as the Hall Management Committee has been empowered to take over the running of the Halls of Residence.
“Let us see how this decisions will work out in the new session.
“We can then meet and evaluate if the system succeeded or not.”
The vice chancellor therefore urged the students to obey all the rules and regulations as failure to do so will be treated as a misconduct and will be appropriately dealt with through the Students’ Disciplinary Committee.
Electricity consumption is a major challenge in Halls of Residence and has gulped the University’s limited fund.