Protests Erupts at College of Health Tech over Poor Facilities

Health Tech Students Protest Poor Facilities

Academic and business activities were on Monday paralysed on the main campus of Ondo State-owned College of Health Technology, Akure as the students protested against alleged extortion and deplorable infrastructure facilities.

The protesting students barricaded the main gate of the institution as early as 7:00am and prevented members of staff and shop operators from gaining entry to the campus.

Bonfire were set by the students and anti-authority songs were being chanted by the disgruntled students.

The placard-carrying students declared that they would continue to boycott lectures and prevent examination until the institution’s management granted their requests.

Among the inscriptions on the placards, the students alleged that the lecture rooms, halls of residence and the laboratories were all in deplorable conditions.

They also said there’s no reliable water supply on campus.

According to the students, the management of the institution allegedly imposed “unjustifiable charges” despite the poor state of the facilities on the campus.

They said despite series of appeals, the management ignored the students, which led to their decision to embark on open protest.

The inscriptions on their placards read “We Are Tired of This Wickedness,” “Health Tech With Poor Environment,” and “Stop Extortion Now.”

“No Solution, No Exams,” “We cannot continue like this. The environment is not fit for learning” “Until they fix these problems, there will be no exams, no lectures.”

Reacting to the protest, the Provost of the institution, Emoruwa Oluwole Oluwambe, denied the allegations levelled against the management.

He, however, disclosed that the state government had waded into the issue and called for a meeting.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Awolowo Ajaka, visited the institution to asses the situation.

In a move to restore peace on the campus, he met with the management and the Students’ Union leadership.

Ajaka seized the opportunity to assess the students’ complaints.

He, therefore, assured the students of the Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa-led administration’s commitment to improving the health sector in the state, adding that the welfare of the students and conducive learning environment are paramount to the governor.

Ajaka appealed to the students to embrace dialogue rather than confrontation, assuring them that their de concerns would be looked into and addressed.