The students of Adamawa State Polytechnic gathered in large numbers on Monday to protest what they see as the management’s insensitivity to the students’ plight at the institution.
According to most students who spoke to journalists on the school premises, they expressed their dislike over the management’s attitude towards the numerous challenges the school faces.
“The authority wants us to pay our school fees when we are sure of our being retained as students of the school,” one of the students said
The students, wielding sticks and green leaves, also complained of lack of access to the management to lay their complaints.
They gathered at the front of the main gate of the polytechnic which lies by the major road linking Jimeta, headquarters of Yola North LGA, with Yola Town, headquarters of Yola South LGA.
Students who also commented indicated that although electricity and water constituted the immediate cause of the protest, there were other issues.
They said the students have near zero relationships with management as there is no Student Union Government and so no student representatives to talk on behalf of students.
They added that besides lack of power and water which made life on campus difficult, the hostels are poorly furnished with insufficient fans and toilet facilities.
It took the efforts of riot police officers from the Nigeria Police Force to disperse the protesting students.
Addressing the press, the Rector of the institution, Prof Mohammed Toungos, blamed the situation on the high cost of energy adding that the cost of both electricity and diesel have gone beyond the roof.
He noted that Yola Electricity Distribution Company had about a week to come up with a bill and asked the management for a prompt payment adding that due to scarce resources, the management solicited for the understanding of the company to make part payment which YEDC refused to honour and went ahead to disconnect power.
He added that considering the importance of water the management bought diesel to power the college borehole while mobilizing funds to pay the bill but the water got exhausted over the weekend which sparked the protest.
Toungo noted that the management has already sourced for funds and has effected the payment and light has been restored to the satisfaction of the students.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE