Sequel to the removal of petrol subsidy and its concomitant hardships, the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, on Thursday announced mitigation measures to ease things for students and staff of the institution.
‘To cushion the harsh effects of the high fares, the university has deployed three luxurious buses to transport students and staff of the institution to and from the campus at peak periods free of charge’ the institution’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun submitted in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com on Thursday..
The statement noted that this gesture of goodwill was in addition to the ones announced earlier by the Vice- Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, at the end of the 296th Meeting of the institution’s Senate on Tuesday ,July 25, 2023.
‘Prof. Egbewole, who expressed management’s deep concern over the adverse effects of the high fares on members of the University community, noted that the deployment of the buses was in furtherance to the earlier provision of highly subsidized transportation in which two buses were put on the road in June for a fare of N100 per drop.
The Vice- Chancellor added that the university management, being aware that the high fares is biting harder, decided to deploy an additional bus to the route and make the three buses available to students and staff free of charge.
The three buses would be stationed at the University Bus Terminus at Tipper Garage, Tanke, between 6.30a.m and 7.00a.m and they would leave for the campus at 7.15a.m. Similarly, for the homeward journey at the close of work/classes, the buses would depart the Fountain Roundabout, near the Senate Building at 3.00p.m and 4.00pm every week day.
The Vice- Chancellor also explained that the University management has intensified negotiations with the state government and private commuter bus operators on how they could assist the university in alleviating the transportation problems faced by members of staff and students. While noting that the negotiation with the state government had resulted in the release of three buses to the University route, while the private commuter bus operators plying the University route have pledged not to charge outlandish fares’ the statement said.
To ease things for lecturers at the institution, the university, the statement noted, would be making free data available to them while also encouraging and promoting ‘virtual learning’.
‘Also, to facilitate the seamless prosecution of the virtual lectures initiative already put in place, Prof. Egbewole has disclosed that the University management would provide free data for all academic staff.
The virtual lecture initiative was instituted to reduce the number of times lecturers and their students would have to come to school.
The Vice -Chancellor, however, explained that the management would come up with more mitigation measures to further cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal once the University Governing Council is put in place.
According to him, such other measures, like financial support, are beyond the management as they would have to be approved first by the Governing Council.
Prof. Egbewole appreciated the students and staff for their understanding and urged them to continue to cooperate with the University management for the sustenance of the existing harmony on the campus and adjoining communities’ the statement added-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you
