(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/nuc-logo-300x208.jpg) The National University Commission's Inter-Ministerial Committee on Campus Safety visited University of Uyo on Monday, June 17, 2013 for an on-the spot assessment of properties damaged and other losses suffered as a result of the violent protest by students on Wednesday June12, 2013 due to N100.00 bus levy, with a view to carrying out adequate investigation into the matter.
The Acting Chairman of the committee Professor Adebisi Balogun and other officials of NUC in company of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Comfort Ekpo inspected the affected areas, which include the Vice-Chancellor's office, the deputy Vice Chancellor Administration's office, Records office, the Director of Academic Planning's office and the Director of Council Affairs' Office.
Professor Balogun described the magnitude of destruction witnessed, as callous and wanton, which could not be justified by the N100.00 bus fare disaffection. He enjoined Students' Union Government to always seek effective ways of partnering with the University Management, instead of embarking on violent protest as the University system has outgrown the level of senseless destruction of properties and loss of lives.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Comfort Ekpo said properties burnt down completely, include the Vice Chancellor's office and the building housing the office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic). Others were the Directorate of Academic Planning, Council's Secretariat and the Students' Records Unit blocks. While properties vandalized include Computer services unit with several computer systems stolen, Office of the University Librarian, Results and Students' Registration Portal and the Vice Chancellor (Administration's office.
Also vandalized, were the Registrar's office, Director of Academic Affairs' office and several offices of lecturers. Professor Comfort Ekpo informed that only one student died from gunshot.
It could be recalled that students of Engineering Faculty protested the payment of N100 fare for bus shuttle between the permanent site and town campus of the University on Wednesday, June 12, 2013. As the demonstration assumed a dangerous dimension, the University Senate, in an emergency meeting approved that the students be directed to vacate all campuses of the University to curb a situation that had become riotous.
Information from the University authority has it that at nightfall, unidentified persons invaded the town campus, burnt down and vandalized several properties of the University despite efforts of the Police, State Security Service and the Fire Service to prevent such. Meanwhile, the Governing Council of the University has constituted an investigation panel on the violent protest. Accordingly, members of the public have been invited to submit memoranda on the mayhem to Mrs. Edak Umondak, the Registrar of the University.
In a related development, the Senate of the University has traced the problem of the University to the non-provision of a take-off grant by the Federal Government to enable the University to develop its permanent site, since its establishment in 1991. This, the Senate noted has contributed significantly to the absence of impressive structures in the University that would ease the pecuniary pressures which often result in tension and stress for both the managers and other members of the University community.
The Senate overwhelming passed a vote of confidence in the administration of the University under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. (Mrs.) Comfort Ekpo, and called on the Governing Council and other stakeholders of the University to help to develop the University.
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Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria