OAU: Shop owners Bemoan Lack of Customers, Uneasy Rentage
Peter Oyebanji
Shop owners as well as traders at Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun State, Ile-Ife, bemoaned the decrease in sales, that have hit them since the beginning of this session.
In an interview with OAU KILONSHELE journalist, the traders bitterly complained about the decrease in sales and uneasy rentage, which necessitated the increase in price in some sectors.
It should be noted that the management of the institution changed the accommodation policy which led to over 70 percent of the students moving to off-campus.
In the interview carried out, it was revealed that the decrease in population of students in the hall of residence coupled with the increase in rentage that occurred last year have terribly affected their businesses.
The traders said that they have let out their griefs about how the mangemnet should help them reduce the rentage but all have been futile.
A tailor at Angola hall of residence, who begged to be anonymous, complained about the overly decrease in sales and gave reasons why he had to increase his prices slightly.
He said "last session, if I want to slim-fit a jeans trousers for instance, I do collect maximum of one hundred and fifty (150) naira but now it is maximum of 200 naira and minimum of 150.
" It is now eight in a room in Angola instead of 12 and no squatter is allowed, I pay forty two thousand (42, 000) naira yearly, it has just been increased recently from thirty thousand (30, 000)."
" No customer coupled with high rent, it has not been easy and there is no students' union to fight this."
The issue is a widespread one affecting all aspects of trades on the institution's campus.
Also, Mr. Tayo, who works at Winter Gate barbing salon said "I can't increase my prices because there is a decrease in sales and I think it will further affect it. I still barb at 200 naira but the condition is not favourable, I pay thirty six thousand naira (36, 000) for rent coupled with the newly introduced prepaid light."
"The mangement knows we are working for students and they still put us in conditions that we will have no option than to discomfort the students."
"It was reported earlier this semester that traders at new market have shown their grievances about this same issue."
Eminent telephone repairs personnel also lamented, "Even the former population is not satisfactory not to talk about this one, we complained about the rent but the porters said it is an order from above."
Speaking with business owners in Fajuyi hall, they made it known that students still patronise their shops, which makes them unaffected. A trader, who pleaded anonymity, told OAU KILONSHELE.
Meanwhile, a Non-academic staff of the university, who did not want his name mentioned, said the increment is normal and that shop owners in halls of residence now use prepaid electricity meter. This is to reduce load on the school's power system.
Shop owners as well as traders at Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun State, Ile-Ife, bemoaned the decrease in sales, that have hit them since the beginning of this session.
In an interview with OAU KILONSHELE journalist, the traders bitterly complained about the decrease in sales and uneasy rentage, which necessitated the increase in price in some sectors.
It should be noted that the management of the institution changed the accommodation policy which led to over 70 percent of the students moving to off-campus.
In the interview carried out, it was revealed that the decrease in population of students in the hall of residence coupled with the increase in rentage that occurred last year have terribly affected their businesses.
The traders said that they have let out their griefs about how the mangemnet should help them reduce the rentage but all have been futile.
A tailor at Angola hall of residence, who begged to be anonymous, complained about the overly decrease in sales and gave reasons why he had to increase his prices slightly.
He said "last session, if I want to slim-fit a jeans trousers for instance, I do collect maximum of one hundred and fifty (150) naira but now it is maximum of 200 naira and minimum of 150.
" It is now eight in a room in Angola instead of 12 and no squatter is allowed, I pay forty two thousand (42, 000) naira yearly, it has just been increased recently from thirty thousand (30, 000)."
" No customer coupled with high rent, it has not been easy and there is no students' union to fight this."
The issue is a widespread one affecting all aspects of trades on the institution's campus.
Also, Mr. Tayo, who works at Winter Gate barbing salon said "I can't increase my prices because there is a decrease in sales and I think it will further affect it. I still barb at 200 naira but the condition is not favourable, I pay thirty six thousand naira (36, 000) for rent coupled with the newly introduced prepaid light."
"The mangement knows we are working for students and they still put us in conditions that we will have no option than to discomfort the students."
"It was reported earlier this semester that traders at new market have shown their grievances about this same issue."
Eminent telephone repairs personnel also lamented, "Even the former population is not satisfactory not to talk about this one, we complained about the rent but the porters said it is an order from above."
Speaking with business owners in Fajuyi hall, they made it known that students still patronise their shops, which makes them unaffected. A trader, who pleaded anonymity, told OAU KILONSHELE.
Meanwhile, a Non-academic staff of the university, who did not want his name mentioned, said the increment is normal and that shop owners in halls of residence now use prepaid electricity meter. This is to reduce load on the school's power system.
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