OOU SSANU pleads for facilities

Education By The Nation Newspaper

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago – Iwoye, has urged the state government to assist the institution in improving her infrastructural facilities to foster better working condition, teaching and learning.

SSANU said the ongoing infrastructural renewal projects by the government – “road construction and building of model schools,” are laudable but added that similar gestures should be extended to OOU. He said the university needs well constructed road network and a Senate building, as well as hostel facilities for the students.

The OOU-SSANU Chairman, Comrade Taiwo Egberongbe, who made the appeal at the 44th meeting of the Western Zone of the association hosted by the university, said it is regrettable that 30 years after, OOU cannot boast of a befitting Senate building and other basic necessary infrastructure, urging government to do something about it.

According to him, the said infrastructure when provided would make teaching, research and learning easier.

Egberongbe urged the government to increase the subvention to the institution and strive to also take up its entire salary bill, stressing that a situation where the state government shared the wage bill burden between her and the varsity in the ration of 70:30 is killing the institution.

The meeting which was attended by delegates from 18 branches that make up the SSANU Western Zone was declared open by the university Vice-Chancellor, Prof Saburi Adesanya.

Also, SSANU Chairman, Western Zone, Com. Alfred Jimoh, appealed to OOU management to look into the issues raised by their colleagues and find ways of addressing them – particularly delay in payment of salaries, outstanding arrears, to ensure peaceful academic environment.

The Vice-Chancellor who was represented by his Deputy, Prof Adewale Sule-Odu, said the university would continue to take measures capable of fostering better working environment for all stakeholders.

He urged SSANU to treat students and alumni with respect whenever they come for registration, clearance and certificate collection, saying they are veritable source funds later for development of their alma mater.