Subsidy Removal:  Unilorin Deploys Free Transportation for Students, Staff

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin.

The management of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State has deployed three luxurious buses to convey students and staff of the institution to and from the campus at peak periods free of charge as part of efforts to cushion the effects of the petrol subsidy removal. In addition, it is also offering free data during lectures to the students and lecturers.

This was disclosed in a statement by the institution’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Alhaji Kunle Akogun yesterday.
It pointed out that the palliative measure, which was in addition to earlier ones, was announced by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, at the end of the 296th Meeting of the institution’s Senate last Tuesday.

It stated: “The three buses would be stationed at the university bus terminus at Tipper Garage, Tanke, between 6.30a.m and 7.00a.m and they would leave for the campus by 7.15a.m.
“Similarly, for the homeward journey at the close of work/classes, the buses would depart the Fountain Roundabout, near the Senate Building at 3.00p.m and 4.00pm every weekday”.

The deployment, according to the institution, was meant to cushion the harsh effects of the high cost of transportation as a result of fuel subsidy removal.
Egbewole, was also said to have expressed management’s deep concern over the adverse effect of the exorbitant transportation cost on members of the university community.

He said that the deployment of the buses was in furtherance to the earlier provision of highly subsidised transportation in which two buses were put on the road in June for a fare of N100 per drop.
Egbewole, pointed out that the university management, being aware that the cost of transportation was biting harder, decided to deploy an additional bus to the route and make the three buses free of charge for students and staff.

The Vice Chancellor also explained that the university management had intensified negotiations with the state government and private commuter bus operators on how they could assist the university in alleviating the transportation hardship facing members of staff and students.

While noting that the negotiation with the state government had resulted in the release of three buses to the university route, the private commuter bus operators plying the university route had pledged not to charge exorbitant fares.
Also, to facilitate the seamless prosecution of the virtual lectures initiative already put in place, Egbewole disclosed that the university’s management would provide free data for all academic staff.

The virtual lecture initiative was instituted to reduce the number of times lecturers and their students would have to be physically present in school.
The Vice Chancellor, however, explained that the management would come up with more palliative measures to further cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal once the University Governing Council was in place.

According to him, such other measures, like financial palliatives, were beyond management as they have to be approved first by the Governing Council.