…Affected student to write letter of apology to the school management

By Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti

The Ad-Hoc Committee set up by the Ekiti State House of Assembly to proactively avert a breakdown of law and order due to issues surrounding charges for hostel accommodation and bed spaces at the State College of Nursing Science has called for the reinstatement of the suspended 300L student of the institution.

In a resolution made available to newsmen at the end of an intense meeting on Thursday, the Ad-Hoc Committee, headed by Hon. Babatunde Fawekun, representing Ido/Osi I in the Assembly, directed that the student, Mr. Seluwa Oluwaseun Vincent, tender an apology in writing to the College authorities. He was also instructed to submit a letter of undertaking, committing to good behaviour as part of the conditions for his reinstatement.

Additionally, the committee requested that the student provide three guarantors, all of whom must be senior civil servants, as a precondition for his reinstatement. Furthermore, the date for the impending semester examination at the institution was to be postponed by a week to allow parents sufficient time to meet the payment of necessary school fees.

The committee also scheduled another meeting with the parents of the students in a week’s time to address the issue of hostel accommodation fees.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Parents’ Association, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), and the Federation of Ekiti State Students Union (FESSU).

Earlier, the management of the College of Nursing Science had explained that Seluwa Oluwaseun, a third-year student, was suspended for unruly behaviour, which is not expected of anyone pursuing a nursing profession. They also stressed that due process was followed before arriving at the decision.

The Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee, Hon. Babatunde Fawekun, in his remarks, stressed that there was no need for protest, adding that it is neither an effective nor safe method to resolve issues, as such protests can be hijacked by hoodlums, which would benefit no one.

Hon. Fawekun lauded the leadership of the Students’ Unions for yielding to the request of the state government to halt their planned protest and allowing dialogue to resolve the issue.

He reiterated the commitment of the 7th Assembly to the prevailing peace and progress in the state during the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, assuring that no stone would be left unturned in achieving the administration’s shared prosperity mantra.

Also speaking, a member of the Parents’ Association of the school, Mr. Ibukun Agbaje, expressed gratitude to the State House of Assembly for its swift intervention in the matter, describing it as an impressive demonstration of how responsive and responsible the House is, both in lawmaking and in addressing other matters related to the development of the state.

Mr. Agbaje, however, stressed the need to reinstate the affected student and postpone the school examination by a week to allow parents enough time to make the necessary payments before the semester examination.

The Zonal Coordinator of South West, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Taiwo Owolewa, also pleaded with the school management to reverse the suspension of the affected student for the sake of better results.