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By Precious Ewuji and Oladele Bello
The Students’ Union Government of Federal University Oye-Ekiti and the transportation workers of the community have settled for a temporary resolution that will see the transport workers resume work.
After a meeting with the King of Oye-Ekiti and the transport workers on Wednesday, 28th of July, 2021, it was concluded that the transport workers resume work on Thursday, 29th of July, 2021.
The transport workers, however, are to collect only N50 until a further agreement would be made on Friday, 30th of July, 2021.
This is coming after students of Federal University Oye-Ekiti experienced difficulties in transporting themselves to the school premises on Monday, 26th of July, 2021.
Around 8:00 am on Monday, students who reside in Irona, Irare, UBA, and the others complained that there was no cab or bus to convey them to the school premises. Most of them were seen loitering around the school junction and looking for means of transportation.
However, a letter had been released by the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) FUOYE chapter and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) to the Students’ Union incumbent Director of Transport, Ige Kehinde.
According to the letter, the unions have decided to increase the price of shuttles on campus. The mode of the new increment is that UBA, Oyato, BetNaija, and Idofin to Phase 2 will be charged for N150 while Mini Campus, White House and Falex to Phase 2 will be charged for N100.
Also, Phase 1 to Phase 2 would be charged for N100, School Junction, Transformer, SY8, and the school road to Phase 2 would be boarded for N100 while Phase 1 to Phase 3 or school hostel would be boarded for 100.
Speaking with the Secretary of RTEAN, Olufemi Pretty, he explained that the economy of the Nation is not favourable at the moment, especially for fuel, oil, and motor parts. He went on to that they have been maintaining the same price for the past 6 years. According to him, they had been coping because this is a students area.
“We informed the office of the Director of Transport by writing an official letter to them that we would increase the price of transportation fee. We expected a call for dialogue from them but we did not get any.
“If they’re ready to negotiate, we are ready. To maintain peace and orderliness, we have asked our members to say away from them,” he said.
The chairman of NURTW, Tosin Owolabi, stated that they are not troublemakers. But, the students are not ready to make peace with them as they’re looking out for any little mistakes from the transporters to cause a stir.
While speaking with the incumbent Director of Transport, Ige Kehinde, he clarified that he got the letter on Saturday. However, he was planning to speak with them today.
“When I got to the school junction this morning, I tried speaking with them but they were not ready to comply with me. Then, I looked for means to convey students to school,” he explained.
Amidst this, the SUG executives released a message to the public offering a temporary alternative to the transportation problems.
“As a temporary alternative to recent transportation problems; the school red marcopolo bus is available to convey students from the school junction to the school for free of charge,” the message reads.
The union further stated that they have no agreement with the community transporters yet and they are not allowed passage into the university premises.
“Meanwhile, the union minibus and the school bus would be operational as an alternative,” it states.
On the late hours of Monday, 26th of July, 2021, another memo was released by the SUG executives as regards the hike in the transportation fee.
According to the memo, the school buses and the union minibus would be available to convey students from different junctions to school for only N20.
Things have however took a positive turn on Wednesday, 28th of July, 2021 as the SUG executives and the transport workers settled for a resolution that will see the transport workers resume work.
