National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Olalekan Yusuff Ajibola
The students of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo have been locked outside the walls of the college for more than three months.
Staff (academic and nonacademic) of the college have severally placed their demands over full payment of their arrears and prompt salaries.
It is no doubt that the students and staffs of the college are now completely helpless. As the Oyo state government have completely adamant on the issue.
The government have failed to pay subvention to all state owned institutions including Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo is among the most affected.
EACOED have not receive not received any special attention from the Oyo state government before this time.
This circumstances has resulted to ceaseless break in academic calendar and epileptic closed down of the college date leaving the student at the mercy of the streets.
Recently it was gathered that the last industrial action that is still on the verge of continuity by the Labour Union started during the examination period final year students of the school regular programme.
Students have in an uncountable times protested this ugly development. Representatives of the Students’ Union keep making moves to safe the situation. It is confirmed that they have many times had meetings(official and unofficial) with management of the college but abortive.
They have many times attended meetings of National Association of Nigerian Students to register their displeasure in regards this ugly incidence.
Staff Unions of the college worriedly got forced to take to the street within the school metropolis to display their unpleasant state in the hands of the management and the state government. Reportedly they wore black attires which symbolises they’re dying of hunger.
On many occasions, staff unions have had staff congresses to review the situation maybe staff members can vote resumption on the basis of management proposals. The proposals are in 70% payment of salaries and other proposals that staff unions and her members show red eye and total rejection to. On all those occasions of Congress meetings, staffs have always voted massively for ‘No Resumption Without Pay’.
The fate of members of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo community remain cloudy and unclear.
Members of National Association of Nigerian Students(NANS) protested massively against the continued closure of all state owned institutions in Oyo state and increment in tuition recently on October 18, 2018. They waited for hours at the door of the government secretariat demanding audience of the state governor but all was fruitless. They however gave government ultimatum of seven days to find lasting and sustainable solution to the situation.
As it appears, no indication has erupted from the side of the government in readiness to yield to the students demands.
The fate remain unclear. Hope shattered. The students of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo cried to the masses court for help.
