News

Otukpo Youths Protest Alleged Neglect By Federal University of Health Sciences Management

Published

1 year ago

Feb 19, 2024.

Eko Hot Blog reports that in OTUKPO, BENUE STATE Hundreds of youths from the Otukpo community in Benue State staged a protest on Monday over alleged “acts of nepotism” and high tuition fees at the Federal University of Health Sciences located in the town.

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The protest, organized by the Otukpo Redemption Movement, Otukpo Youth Forum and Otukpo Accountability Forum, began at the former Otukpo Stadium and marched three kilometers to the university gates, disrupting academic activities.

The youths carried placards with inscriptions including: “FUHSO VC runs school as private entity,” “FUHSO VC has no regard to the host community policy on employment,” and “No management meeting in FUHSO for four years.”

According to Alechenu Adah, spokesperson for the protesting youths, “One of the concerns of the youth was the neglect of the host community by the university authority in the area of the employment of junior staff.”

Adah claimed a similar situation was occurring at the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital under the management of the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Silas Ochenjele.

“The protest will run for 14 days until our demands are met,” Adah declared.

“A society that has impartial and effective justice system will eventually become a peaceful society but a society that allows bias in justice system can only create an illusion of peace. Otukpo district seeks for justice,” he added.

The youths alleged the host community was completely deprived of employment opportunities at the university.

“How do we explain this: head of administration, head of procurement, Chief Nursing Officer, Chief Accountant Chief Pharmacist and Chief Laboratory Scientist, all from Agatu LGA,” Adah said.

In response, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academics, Prof. Stephen Abah, appreciated the youths for the peaceful protest and promised to initiate dialogue between the university management and youth leadership to resolve the issues raised.