Encomium
+ Tension heightens as disengaged staff protest unpaid entitlements
SERIOUS infrastructural crisis is allegedly rocking Redeemer’s University (RUN) as students, parents and staffers are protesting the sorry state of the private university owned by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). Even RUN’s dis-engaged staff claimed they are yet to be paid their entitlements, weeks after they were fired.
From inadequate accommodation to power, water shortage, poor sanitary conditions, welfare and sundry issues, RUN is allegedly facing big challenges at its Ede, Osun permanent site.
A letter of complaint to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Debo Adeyewa by a parent of one RUN student, Mr. Sunday Adondua painted a clearer picture of the true state of the university. He wrote with regret:
“As a parent with deep concern for welfare of our children, who are students in your school, I feel constrained into drawing your attention to the condition our children are being subjected to in the new site of your university at Ede.
From reports so far received, since resumption in this first semester for 2014/2015 session, the following issues need urgent remedy:
- Unreliable water supply, water is very essential for healthy living and avoidance of communicable diseases, arising from sharing of toilets and need for potable water for drinking and general use/personal hygiene.
- Unreliable electric power supply even though this may be a general national problem, a higher institution with a large student population in an isolated location should have a more reliable system for power supply which is essential for academic activities, both in the day and night, with the need being more critical at night.
- Inadequate provision for catering services, with students finding it difficult to have proper meals every day, and, even with recurring incidences of students not having food to eat at some meal times. A situation where students now resort to making do with snacks and junk food is not desirable, in such an isolated location, without reasonable alternatives, for health and safety reasons. The matter is made worse by the inadequate number of catering service providers. Having only two caterers to cater for a large student population is grossly inadequate, and, often with only one caterer being available for dinner. This could undermine quality of food and service.
- Uncompleted housing infrastructure, especially, for hostel accommodation, without burglary proof (in view of the isolated location) and fans, and inadequate ventilation, constraining occupants to open doors for ventilation, thus exposing them to risk of mosquito bites and consequent likelihood of malaria infection.
Considering the fact that first semester has been on for some weeks now, and noticeable improvement is yet to be seen in addressing the issues raised above, as a concerned father, I feel personally disappointed. It is disappointing and disturbing that a decision to relocate to the permanent site at Ede, has been done in an apparent haste, without ensuring that basic infrastructure and welfare provisions have been adequately taken care of.
The current development appears to be eroding the enviable record Redeemer’s University has built over the years. My choice to send my child to your school has been borne out of my admiration for the well-built reputation of the institution over the years. I did not regret sending my first child to your institution who graduated about two years back. I hope you would not allow me to regret in sending a second child to your school!
Those of us (parents) who are desirous of good and sound education for our children have opted to send them to private universities with track records of excellence, in all spheres of life (moral and academic), in preference to public universities, in spite of the high cost differentials.
Kindly consider the issues above and take urgent actions to redress the inadequacies our children are currently being subjected to in your school at the new site.
Regards,
Sunday Adondua, FNSE.
Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese Plant.”
Mr Adondua’s protest validates ENCOMIUM Weekly’s exclusive report weeks back which revealed the sorry state of the university.
Accommodation is still a big issue in RUN. In fact, some staff had to complain bitterly about their condition when they arrived Ede in October. A highly reliable source furnished us with yet another letter written by an aggrieved staff to RUN’s committee in charge of accommodation, accusing them of neglecting him and his family.
“Dear MTEC & Housing Committee,
I have previously mailed you to explain my observation and present challenge concerning my accommodation in Ede. In my mail, I called your attention to the fact that my name was obviously (if not intentionally) skipped and replaced on the list. As I mail you this day nothing has been said to explain what happened or transpired. The committee has not briefed me, reconciled or explained what happened or why my name which was on the list was replaced. I have patiently waited until now but amazingly I felt and still feel neglected and ignored.
I have read the above mail and I cannot still place where my family will fall to. Is my story that of an owner who was stripped off his possession? Before leaving Nigeria, I already assured my wife that our family would move to Ede bearing in mind that the University will provide an accommodation. How do I explain to a loving wife who sacrificed her career by resigning her attractive job to be with her husband in Ede? Or where would I move my properties in pastor’s lodge to? This committee has left me worried. I never knew things will play out this way.
I strongly hope and trust this committee that I still have an assurance of a two bedroom apartment in a storey building in Ede.
I earnestly await your reply on this issue so that I can know the way to go in settling my home.
Thank you.
Adewuyi A.”
It was further revealed that RUN had to compel staff to accommodate those who don’t have where to stay as shown in the following directive our source quote:
“For those that their houses are manageable for now (please see attached list), they are kindly implore to accommodate other members of staff temporarily for the other houses to be ready.
NB:
People in 4 bedroom flats are to please accommodate three more staff
People in 3 bedroom flats are to please accommodate two more staff
People in 2 bedroom flat are to please accommodate one more staff.
Please note that the original occupants are entitled to the master’s bedroom.
The management has been working on the issue of power and water.”
Critics of RUN authorities alleged that the current condition of the university is traceable to the fact that they hurriedly moved to Ede permanent without completing it.
Meanwhile, the over one hundred staff of RUN allegedly dis-engaged in September, 2014 are alleging they have not been paid off. A non academic staff who pleaded anonymity alleged she is yet to receive the agreed percentage of her September and October salary, leave allowances, among other entitlements.
RUN’s Directorate of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Adetunji Adeleye refused to respond to the numerous allegations staff, students and parents levelled against the authorities when we called on Monday, November 17, 2014. He rather labelled our reporter a ‘blackmailer.’
“Good morning sir, I’m Uche Olehi, Associate Editor, ENCOMIUM Weekly, a Lagos based celebrity magazine. We want the reaction of Redeemer’s University to allegations that staff and students are battling with serious infrastructural issues. From lack of water, power and other challenges which make RUN’s Ede permanent site inhabitable. ENCOMIUM Weekly also have protest mails from an aggrieved parent and a staff bemoaning the poor condition of living here. It’s important you address these issues bordering on sorry state of RUN before we go to press. You can reach us through this medium or [email protected]. Thanks.”
Our unreplied SMS read.
– UCHE OLEHI
