OTUOKE (Bayelsa) – Normal academic activities have resumed at the Federal University Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa, following Thursday’s protest by members of the institution’s host community.
The protest, which was promptly dispersed by security operatives, had compelled the university to suspend the ongoing semester examinations.
Prof. Mobolaji Aluko, the Vice Chancellor of the university, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that the suspended examinations will continue as normal academic activities had resumed.
Aluko said he and the Registrar of the institution had engaged the aggrieved community representatives in a dialogue that lasted for several hours.
He said that the contentious issues have been significantly resolved, while the examinations earlier disrupted were underway.
“The Registrar and I had a long meeting with a number of the community’s representatives on their three issues of concern on Thursday (Sept. 4).
“On the non-existence of an MoU between the university, we have explained that the final draft from the side of the university was submitted to the King almost four months ago now, after extensive consultations with the community.
“It is now left to the community to respond.
“A list of 319 Otuoke community members was submitted for immediate employment earlier this year. It came without application letters or CVs/resume.[eap_ad_2]
“A demand that they all be employed was deemed impossible by the university, as applicants would have to be interviewed first consistent with due process and specific needs of the university, as well as budgetary constraints.
“Currently, the university has 1,040 students and 1,300 staff, a stark imbalance.
“On the alleged insufficient number of students admitted in the 2014/2015 exercise, the university has explained that only 269 so far out of about 550 students total to be admitted has been published.
“And more members of the Otuoke community are included in the next batch to be submitted to JAMB for clearance,” Aluko said.
The vice chancellor further explained that the university remained committed to meeting its social obligations to its host communities driven by its goal of impacting positively on the community.
He said that the schools had deployed its academic resources in ongoing research to solve the perennial flooding in the area and other parts of Bayelsa as well as offering technical advice to Bayelsa Post Flood Committee.
NAN recalls that hundreds of members of the Otuoke community on Thursday took to the streets and barricaded the entrance to the institution before security men arrived to disperse them. (NAN)[eap_ad_3]
