FUNAAB RESUMES OCTOBER 3

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) Senate, at the end of its emergency meeting held recently, has approved Monday, October 3, 2016, as the resumption date for normal academic activities. The students, who have been on mid-semester break, are now to resume after the consideration of the report submitted by the committee that was set up to look into the students’ unrest. The Senate has, therefore, approved the facilitation of the establishment of a Police Station in the communities opposite the University Campus.

The University Management has also approved that aside the usual security measures that had been put in place, University and police patrol vehicles would now be stationed at a strategic location, from 6pm to 6am daily, to swiftly attend to any distress call, while the internal security team, in collaboration with the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in the Odeda and Obantoko areas in Abeokuta, Ogun State, would continue to take turns, on a daily basis, to patrol the University environs, especially, at night.

The University, through the Police Community Relations’ Committee (PCRC), is working at ensuring that hostel owners provide at least, four security personnel for each hotel, who are to work in conjunction with the security personnel stationed at a strategic location. Failure to abide by this arrangement would make the University to blacklist erring hostels, while students would be advised against patronising such hostels in their own interest.

The University Management has, again, encouraged the various communities to embrace community policing, vigilante services and support the efforts of both the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), while students have also been enjoined to take security matters more seriously and avoid attracting unnecessary attention to themselves, by always being alert, vigilant about happenings in their surroundings and be swift in contacting the University’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), in case they notice any strange movement or occurrence around their vicinity.

Management’s effort at providing more hostel accommodation through the Federal Government, is being given top priority within the available resources. FUNAAB would continue to appeal to well-meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of the University, even as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), through its Special Intervention Fund and private organisations, are building additional hotels within the University, which are currently at various stages of completion.

Additionally, the University Administration has directed that all lectures should not exceed 6pm daily, to allow students get to their homes before dusk, while the internal shuttle services are always available to convey students, who reside outside the campus, close to their destinations. For emergencies, the University’s Chief Security Officer could be contacted on the mobile number: 08081779023.

Meanwhile, the University Senate has approved the payment of the sum of Five Thousand Naira (N5,000.00) only, inclusive of REMITA charges per student, as reparation fee, as well as presentation of a letter of undertaking to be of good conduct from their parents and a sworn affidavit from the Court of law, while the deadline for compliance is October 4, 2016. The Senate also approved the payment of claims to claimants arising from the damages suffered, as a result of the students’ unrest.