Residents Lament Hall Management's Highhandedness

Residents Lament Hall Management's Highhandedness

Oladeji Olaniyan, Adeniyi Mayowa



Residents of Mozambique hall,  Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, Osun State, has condemned the highhandedness of the hall management

In a visit to the hall by OAU Kilonshele after the students' union action committee released a report condemning the hall management's acts, it was discovered that the hall management are actually guilty of these acts as the students confirmed them.

The students' union action committee in a press statement released on social media platforms, condemned the hall management for their high handedness, constification of students properties and mal-treatment of students in the halls of residence.

The committee condemned the mal-treatment of the hall management meted out to the students in some of the halls of residence and the unjustifiable seizure of the students' properties.

"It has come to the notice of the Action Committee that certain actions alien to the norms of the university are being carried out by the hall managements  which do not have any place in the university rules and regulations or code of conduct.These illegitimate acts include illegal charges for bedspace clearance, seizure of students' properties, nailing of rooms and eviction as punishments for no just reasons."

"Particularly, residents of Mozambique hall have been at the receiving end of this situation as they now pay 1000 Naira fine for not switching off the electric bulb in their rooms during the day. Also, properties such as I.D cards, mattresses, tables, chairs, blenders, buckets, fans and other valuable items are being seized for the most baseless reasons." the committee stated in the report.

The action committee also condemned the manner in which the halls management have been destroying students properties and the disciplinary levy imposed on the students. They noted that the university authorities did not make available necessary and basic facilities to aid the students in  the halls of residence.

"The Action Committee condemns the confiscation of students property because the students acquired this property to increase their comfort and make their living in a ill-equipped.  residence bearable. Which is the responsibility of university cum hall management but alas they have failed in this task."

"The disciplinary levy imposed on students is condemnable without the provision of proper facilities such as kitchenette and washing machines. Without these facilities students are expected to make do of the available spaces and corridors for domestic purposes as cooking, laundry, and dish washing, which is not convenient for them.  Hence, any attempt to punish students for these is despotic and it will be met with stiff resistance from students." the committee said.

The committee also encouraged the students to increase their participation in the activities of the union, as it is the only means to halt mal-treatment from the constituted authorities.

In a short interview with OAU Kilonshele's correspondents, one of the residents of Mozambique hall who preferred to be addressed as Blessing precisely shared her ordeal with our correspondence when she was asked to confirm the veracity of the press release of the students' union action committee. She acknowledged the mal-treatment meted out to them by the hall management and the seizure of their properties due to flimsy mistakes from their end. She confirmed that they have to pay the hall wardens in cash before their properties could be released.

"They Seize our beds because of silly mistakes committed without giving us any warning. They demand money from us before the seized items could be released."

"Hall management allow strangers to enter but we the occupants must present our ID cards. We will not be allowed to enter without it," she said.

In a conversation with another occupant who demanded anonymity, the action committee's release was confirmed.

"It happened to me. They locked my room. They came and seized plastic chairs, they said we were not meant to use it. We were also made to pay 1000 Naira for not putting off electric bulbs," she said.

When quizzed about the existence of any prior instruction, the anonymous said, "We've been warned about blenders, but I know nothing about chairs."

Another occupant who demanded anonymity also confirmed the issue. "I don't know about payment of fines, but they do lock rooms. Mine was locked momentarily because we left our fan working. They warned that the next time we err, we will be evicted. I'm however not sure maybe she meant it or maybe she was just trying to scare us into submission," she said.

When another resident was asked whether actions have been taken by the students, she noted that the students are scared of taking action.

"I don't think anything has been done. I think we don't have the ability."

There is no way we can just approach them. I think students are afraid," she concluded.

However, all efforts to reach the appropriate authority to confirm if they are aware of this ugly trend in the hall proved abortive as all calls and text message sent by our correspondents have not been responded to by the authorities of the institution as at the time of writing this report.

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