The inauguration of the newly-elected President of Students’ Union Government, University of Ibadan, Bolaji Aweda, was, on Monday, greeted by protests over tuition fee hike by the institution.

Reports says that while the inauguration of Aweda and other executives was going on, some students attempted to disrupt the proceedings over the school fees recently increased by the university.

Aweda, however, said that his executives had called for negotiation with the institution’s management on reduction of the fees.

He said that the former executives had started working on it before handing over the administration to them.

“We will try our possible best to make sure that there is a reduction in fees, because they are out of the reach of the students,” he said.

The new SUG president, while stating that there had not been any official release on the new tuition fees by the university, however, said that the newly-admitted students had been made to pay exorbitant amounts.

Aweda said that his administration would amplify the voices of the students and ensure that every opinion counts.

“We will project the voices of the students, fight for their rights, look for ways of addressing their challenges and better their lives,” he said.

Aweda also promised harmonious working relationship with the school authorities and all the unions in the institution.

“We cannot stand alone and expect to achieve more. If we are to achieve more, we must stand with other unions in the interest of the students.

“We will make sure that everyone is carried along and that there is proper communication between the students’ union and the students,” Aweda said. (NAN)

The Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU), University of Abuja chapter, says the union will not call off its strike until all issues are addressed.

The branch Chairman, Dr Sylvanus Ugoh, told newsmen on Monday in Abuja that the members were not working.

“Those against the strike may possibly be beneficiaries of what the union is fighting against.

“Any member found breaking the strike will be subjected to disciplinary procedure.

According to him, 90 to 95 per cent of lecturers are on strike.

Reports says that the lecturers had, on May 2, declared an indefinite strike to draw attention of the school management to pressing issues.

One of the issues was the University’s refusal to conduct elections for the office of the Deans of Faculties and Provost, College of Health Sciences.

The Union also accused the University of carrying out promotion of some members of staff without following due process.

Other reasons for the strike, according to the union, include advertorial for the vacancy of the post of Vice Chancellor without following due process, among others.

The chairman said that ASUU had withdrawn the services of their members in the university.

“ASUU does not lock university, what ASUU did was to withdraw services members render to the university.

”What we are saying is that our members are not working,” he said.

On the issue of some lecturers indicating interest to lecture, he said that even in a national strike, some would still want to go against the action.

However, Dr Habib Yakoob, the Acting Director, Information and University Relations, said the management was not aware of any strike.

Yakoob said that many lecturers had indicated interest to teach, adding that students were also prepared to receive lectures.

A correspondent, who was at the university’s permanent site, reports that students were seen on campus to officially resume second semester academic activities.

NAN also reports that as at the time of the visit, no academic activities was seen going on in the lecture halls.

A Student, Adenike Owolabi, said students were just resuming for their second semester and hopefully lectures would commence soon.

Owolabi, who said the students were not ready for any strike, added that they had wasted so much time as a result of incessant strikes.

She, therefore, called on the school management to resolve whatever the problem was, to avoid a situation where the school may be shut down. (NAN)

A Bill for an Act to amend the Federal Colleges of Education, 2003 and to establish the Federal College of Education, Special in Dukku Gombe State has scaled first reading in the House of Representatives.

The Bill was sponsored by Rep. Abdullahi El-rasheed (APC-Gombe) and read during the plenary in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said that the establishment of the school in Dukku Federal Constituency would help to actualise the aspirations of youths especially the physically challeged in the area.

He added that the establishment of the school would make it the second of its kind in the country.

The speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas put it to vote and was unanimously adopted by the House and passed for first reading.