Students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Tuesday, embarked on a three-day boycott of academic activities.

The students also threatened to go on a mass protest over the inadequate transportation system provided by the institution’s authorities. 

The student’s union in a statement on Monday ordered the 72-hour boycott, after its congress meeting on Thursday, and the subsequent joint meeting of the Central Executive Council, Hall Executive Council and the leadership of the Students’ Representative Council.

The union in the statement alleged that the newly introduced transport system had subjected students to overcrowding and discomfort, caused by inadequate coverage of the campus, insufficient drivers as well as persistent shortage of operational tricycles and buses.

Speaking to the Peoples Gazette, on Wednesday, the General Secretary of the institution’s students’ union, Habeeb Isa, stated that the union leaders were currently in a meeting with the school management

He added that few students and lecturers found holding lectures during the boycott were sent out of their classes.

Mr Habeeb said, “The boycott started yesterday and it is in full effect, our students are not coming to campus. Few lecturers and students that insisted on coming to classes, we’ve gone to those classes and sent everyone out. So, our students are actually in full support of the boycott, at least, 90 per cent of them are at home.

“As it is right, the leadership of the union is in a meeting with the management. I’m not there because I have a hospital appointment by 1 p.m., that’s the reason I’m not in that meeting.”

The union had in the statement demanded provision of more vehicles to cater for the over 35,000 members of the university community; immediate reintroduction of the existing transport system until enough buses for the new system are provided; guaranteed adequate, affordable and reliable intra-campus mobility for all students and full consultation with the union’s leadership before any further major changes to campus transportation.

Stating that though they support the new transport system, he warned that if the leadership of the institution failed to address the matter after the end of the lecture boycott, the union’s congress would consider embarking on a mass protest to drive home their demands.

He said, “So, if after 72 hours, our demands, cries and plights are not addressed, the congress will proffer a way forward which is a mass protest against this system they implemented. It’s important to note that the leadership of the union is not authoritative in this decision making. The congress has the power to decide our way forward. That is why it was said in that statement that the mass protest, if agreed to by the congress, will be our next line of action.”

The Gazette was unable to contact the institution’s spokesperson, Abiodun Olanrewaju. He did not pick calls made to his mobile and had yet to reply to a text message sent as of the time this report was filed. 

It was gathered that the school management is currently in a meeting the leadership of the students’ union as earlier confirmed by the general secretary.