UI students protest against 10-hour electricity rationing, fees hike and other grouses
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Students of the University of Ibadan (UI), Nigeria’s oldest university, are protesting against the implementation of a 10-hour electricity supply per day policy introduced on Tuesday – day time (six hours), night time (four hours).
The policy was conveyed in a memo dated 16 July 2024 issued by the Works and Maintenance Department, signed by its Director O.A. Adetolu.
“Effective immediately, the Vice-Chancellor has approved 10-hour daily electricity supply on Campus as follows: 1. Day Time: 08 a.m. 02 p.m. (6 hours) 2. Night Time: 10 p.m. 02 a.m. (4 hours). Kindly adhere strictly to the approved schedule. Thank you,” the memo said.
A student who did not want his name mentioned confirmed that “There was a protest yesterday night [Tuesday] that lasted till about 2 am today.
“The University of Ibadan introduced the notice that it would start rationing a 10-hour electricity distribution on campus.
“This follows an outrageous increment in fees, introduction of inexplicable and duplicated fees like utility levy, which is 20,000, among other unconscionable fees.”
The memo
Protest cripples academic activities
Thousands of students are protesting against the power rationing in addition to a hike in school fees and other grouses
They moved in large numbers to all the entrances of the institution and blocked them by 8am this morning.
Both academic and non-academic staff were locked outside the gates.
After blocking all the entrances, they moved from faculty to faculty to ensure academic activities were totally paralysed, but prevented video recording so their faces would not be recorded for the authorities to victimise them.
“We are protesting against injustice and insensitivity of the state school authorities to our plight,” one student explained.
“You can imagine the authorities saying they will be shedding power henceforth, which means there are days we will be in darkness. How do they expect us to study?
“Secondly, they have hiked school fees astronomically to an unimaginable proportion. Do they want us to abandon our studies?
“Our parents are saying there is no money. Even feeding is difficult and we are still trying to wriggle out of this they are bringing hike in tuition fees. We cannot take this any longer. Enough is enough.
“The third issue is the victimisation of some of our colleagues who protested last time. The police have arrested them and up to now, they are still being detained for saying no to injustice. They are hurting us and they don’t want us to complain.”
Three female science students said the situation is worse for them as they have to pay through their noses.
One disclosed she paid about N78,000 when she gained admission but she is now asked to pay more than N300,000.
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