UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN STUDENTS BANNED FROM COOKING IN THE HOSTEL

The environment at the premier university, University of Ibadan, has been tense since their resumption, following the decisions of the authorities over the cooking arrangement in the halls of residence.

The issue which does not seem to please most of the students has since elicited different reactions from the students concerned.

In a bulletin released and signed by the registrar of the institution, Mr O.I Olukoya, the circulation dated 4 January, 2013 stated that cooking had henceforth been prohibited in the rooms, restricting cooking activities to kitchenettes on each floor of the halls.

Further stated in the bulletin as regards accommodation, was that there would be no increase in the accommodation fee for undergraduate students, as it would remain at N14, 000. The bulletin also stated that only newly admitted and final year students would be given priority in the allocation of bed spaces.

These issues have since then been a major concern to many students on the campus. Reacting to this, the PRO of the Student Union Government, Oluwakayode Agboola, a 400 level student of the Department of Agricultural Economics, said that the decision was in no way appropriate for the students. “The inception of the whole situation was last session, when there were rumors from various quarters that the management intended to increase the cost of accommodation, although the Vice Chancellor assured us that it was no option, despite that they are indeed looking into a way to improve the quality of living in the halls of residence.”

Explaining that the students at a stake holders’ meeting with the management on the 18 of December last year, were made to understand that energy consumption within the halls was a major challenge to the management.

“By their analysis, they explained that the government gives them N21 million for electricity in a session, while they spend almost N250 million per annum, thereby bringing money from academics into managing the halls,” he explained.

The student leaders also revealed that the management however explained that to strike a balance, the occupants in a room would have to be reduced or the accommodation fee would be increased.

They further confirmed the need to reason with the authority, thus the motive behind the meeting with the VC again on the 20 of December, where they were made to understand that there would not be an increase in the accommodation fee, but rather the halls would now be managed by the hall management committee, comprising of the hall wardens, hall masters and chairpersons of the halls of residence, with the laws being strictly adhered to, one of which is restricting cooking activities to the kitchenettes.

“The problem however, was that the foundational halls of UI, that is, those constructed in 1948, do not have kitchenettes, as they were designed for cafeterias. Nnamdi Azikwe Hall, Independent Hall and Idia Hall are those with kitchenettes, so we were promised that kitchenettes would be made available on each floor and burners would be made available.

“But to our surprise, a publication was made in the Punch Newspaper on the 7 of January, 2013, indicting us that we were the ones that pushed for increment in the accommodation fee, with another publication signed by the registrar, stating that the cafeterias had been resuscitated, which is not so,” Kayode said.

However, the authorities were said to have identified where the kitchenettes would be, but they are yet to be put in place. Having decided to hold a congress, the executive intends to use this as a means to make the students understand what had transpired during the course of the break and to discuss the aftermath of the development.

Also speaking with Campusbeats, another member of the union, Abolade Ore, a 300 level student of the Department of Kinetics and Health Education explained that students were not trying to fight the management, but rather fighting for the best of the students, “we are not saying that their policies are not wonderful, but some things must come in place before these policies are enforced. We do not want a protest because we understand what it will cause the school calendar, but if after all the consultations and negotiations, our demands are not met, it might not even be the student leaders that would start the protest, but the generality of the students at one point or the other,” Abolade explained.

Many of the students who spoke with Campusbeats however did not support the management’s decision while only a few viewed it as a step worth taking.

The Dean of the Students’ affairs, Professor Abdul-Rasak Alada in his reaction, however revealed that the university was funding the hostel from its resources.

“Truth of the matter is that the federal government is not giving us a kobo, so that is why we are thinking of handing off hostel facilities for students. The money that we are supposed to spend on academic activities is being diverted to service the halls,” he explained.

He also revealed that the university had provided kitchenettes where the students can cook and electric meters would be installed to gauge the power being consumed. And he also assured that the institution had no intention to increase the accommodation fees....