By Esther Mark
The University of Jos is one institution where students depend on the release of lists for various things. Admission, accommodation, scholarship, graduating students list, NYSC call up list, and so on. When the2010/2011 academic session began, students thought the accommodation allocation process was going to be on-line as was the case last session, but little did they know that the system was about to change and they would wait for a month for the allocation list to be released. With the three major hostels – Naraguta, Abuja and Village hostels, in addition to the medical students hostel, there was the believe that the available bed spaces would still not go round the students that had indicated interest.
First, the process was a tedious one. Students were to buy the allocation forms for 200 naira, attach a photocopy of their school fees receipt and ID card to the form and submit. It was stated clearly on the form that “only final year students, clinical students, disabled and as many new students as possible are entitled accommodation. However, all applicants will be given accommodation if available….” With the declaration, all final year students who applied and a handful of new students were hopeful that the process would be beneficial to them.
The students waited for a month into resumption with the list nowhere in sight. Many new students had to squat with friends and relations while waiting for the list. Others had no option than rent accommodation off-campus at exorbitant fees. It was an annoying situation where students went for lectures not clear how and when they would finally settle down for the session. Then last week, the much awaited list was released and like every human endeavour, had its lapses. Some of the final year and new students could not locate their names on the list. Also, some final year students who were allocated the rooms were not happy with the choice of accommodation. They considered the ground floors allocated to them as traditional meant for new students.
When the news of the list went round school, students hurried to the central notice board at the Main Campus where the list was displayed. But15 minutes later, the list was no more as it had been torn by impatient students who were all desperate to know their fate. Others had to retire to the hostels where photocopies of the lists were placed. In all, many students said they preferred the online system where you key in your matriculation number and password and in seconds have your name and room reserved and allocated devoid of stress and anxiety. Others however, felt the manual process was the best as there was the problem of “reserved and full” in the previous years. Here, students apply for rooms and barely minutes after the lines are open, almost all the available spaces are blocked by those presumed to be in charge of the allocation. These, they reserve and sell at high rates to fellow students later. So with the change in system of allocation, many thought there would be a fair and equal chance for all to get bed spaces. But alas, many hopes were dashed!
Reactions from students to the release of the list were mixed as those who got allocation were happy while those who did not get were sad, some in tears. Some of the students bared their minds to UNIJOS ECHO on the issue. Lengmi Joshua, a 400 level Mass Communication reacted thus: “I was really confident that I was going to be allocated a room. Where do I start from with my project in view as a final year student? How were the rooms allocated that a final year student like me was denied? Was there a mistake or I was not just fortunate enough? I am lost at what to do. The school authorities should consider building more hostels to curb this”. For another final year student of Sociology, “this is just unheard of. We thought this system would favour us since the process would be carefully sorted out. Little did we know that we are in for a shocker. How and where do we go from here? I’m left with no option than to buy from others.”
Another freshman by name Martins Emmanuel said: “As a new student, I have been squatting with a friend that resides off campus. I have had to put up with his attitudes simply because I felt it would be for a short while until I get my room. Now I’m at crossroads not knowing what road to take. Where do I get the money to rent an accommodation off campus? And with the not too secured state of the town, I would have to cope with the security challenges, no thanks to the hostel allocation committee.”
However, another 400 level Mass Communication student, Geraldine Yalwa, felt good that she found her name on the list. This according to her would help her “finally settle down and face my studies after one month of uncertainty.”
Efforts made by UNIJOS ECHO to get the authorities concerned to speak on the issue proved abortive as they were all busy. Other students who spoke on the matter appealed to the authorities to consider building of new and bigger hostels as it would not only solve the accommodation problem but also stop the accommodation racketeering which many consider as exploitative.
