What is happening to Federal Universities in Nigeria?
Both academic and non-academic activities in University of
Calabar (UNICAL) have been suspended as the students led by the Students Union
Government (SUG) went out early this morning with placards, tore mattresses and
other welfare items protesting their poor welfare state.
CrossRiverDaily understands that for some time now there have been
insufficient power supply and low availability of water which have hampered the
students academic activities.
One of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) official who spoke to CrossRiverDaily
on grounds of anonymity said “we are all tired of Prof. James Epoke’s less
concern on our welfare. Today is today we are not leaving this place (the Main
Gate) until something positive is done to our welfare.
“All we want is reduction in school fees; more lecture venues; scraping out
of the N10,000 acceptance; more hostel accommodation; sufficient power supply;
and adequate water in our hostels”.
Meanwhile, some of the students harboring opposite views as to the reasons
for the protest believe “there is more to why they (the students) are
protesting than just their welfare. There are certain monies the SUG was
supposed to get from the school management and as I speak with you now, the
school bursar has not released the monies and there is no hope of releasing
even in the next months. That’s why the president of the Union,
Comrade Ekpo Tete has decided to mobilise the students for this demonstration.
It is a total mess as far as I am concerned because even before they left the
hostel, there was light and water was running ,” one of them said.
As to when they will call an end to the protest, one of the SUG official
(name withheld) said “we are not ending this. We have started, we have started.
We are not retreating, Epoke must go and now is the time”.
Cross River Daily
: “…reporting the state, above and beyond.”
No comments:
Post a Comment