The management of the University has lifted the partial ban that was temporarily placed on Student Union activities in the institution.
Consequently, logistic to pave way for full democratization of Student Unionism in the University by early June, had been directed to be put in motion, immediately.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwafemi Balogun, broke the good news last Thursday, at a Management meeting held, with the attendance of some student representatives, in the Conference Room of the Directorate of Public Relations.
The Vice-Chancellor has therefore directed the Dean of Student Affairs, Professor Samuel Oluwalana, to meet with the student’s representatives towards mapping-out proposal for a credible democratization and elections of Union executive.
Professor Balogun who commended the good conduct of the students assured of Management’s logistic support, to ensure that a full executive was elected into office, at least two weeks before the commencement of the Second Semester examination.
Meanwhile the Management has planned additional succor for students in the area of transportation, as six additional Ashok-Leyland buses will be delivered this week, to further boost the University’s fleet. (The buses actually arrived on campus last Friday).
In the same vein, the Vice-Chancellor has equally assured that a new set of hostel to accommodate female students would be ready by the commencement of session in September.
Professor Balogun who dropped the hints during the Management meeting, said fund for the buses and hostel projects were sourced from the Acceptance Fee, paid by students on fresh admission to the University.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the continued improvement in student welfare by his administration was in keeping faith with the pledge to always commit fund generated through Acceptance Fee “to be utilized in the interest of the students”, he said.
The Vice-Chancellor observed that the spate of student unrest would be greatly curtailed if University Management across the nation stop paying ‘lip-service’ to student welfare and utilize fund generated through fees, judiciously.
In his word, Professor Balogun said, “How can they (UNAAB students) say they want to riot? All money generated through the Acceptance Fee, had been deployed to provision of buses and hostels. N21m was added by Management to what they (students) paid in 2008/2009 and that’s why we have more buses and hostels.
I have always counselled students not to protest the payment of Acceptance Fee, what I detest is collecting the money and not using it for the benefit of the students”. He added.
The Dean of student Affairs, Professor Oluwalana commended what he termed an “open and genuine sincerity” of the incumbent administration to issues concerning students with an assurance that the democratization of the Union would be actualized without delay.
The Dean assured that a time-table would be presented without further delay as the students already had a proposal, saying the major issue will be in forming an electoral body to midwife the process.
Leader of the students’ representative, who is also the General Secretary of the National Association of the Nigerian Students, Zone D, Mr. Thomas Arowolo, pledged that the students will always justify the confidence reposed in them and ensure that their level-headedness was not compromised.