Protesting students from oil producing areas in Ondo State on Wednesday disrupted activities at the Ondo State Oil Producing Development Commission (OSOPADEC) over non-payment of their 2016/2017 bursary.
The students displayed placards with different inscriptions such as “Release our 2016/2017 Bursary,” Bursary is our Right,” ” l Belong to Ese-Odo,Ilaje’ ‘ Bring Back our 2016/2017 Bursary.”
The students’ spokesperson, Iyanu Akingboye, told newsmen that the last time they received bursary was in 2015/2016.
Akingboye accused the OSOPADEC Chairman, Gbenga Edema, of deliberately denying them the bursary for personal reasons.
“It is a deliberate act for the chairman to scrap the 2016/17 OSOPADEC busary allowance.
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“The last time we received bursary was year 2015/2016. More than 5,000 students are being denied this bursary.
“We have held series of meetings with the authorities, particularly with the chairman, to pay this fund but he is not ready to listen.
”The last time we received bursary was 2015 and 2016. He does not want to pay our 2016/17 busary which is still in arrears and this is 2019.
”Now, they are willing to pay 2018/19 bursary; we will not accept this because it’s not privilege but our right as students from an oil producing area, ” he said.
A Senior Special Assistant to Ondo State Governor, Mr Jomoh Dojumo, who met with the protesting students, cautioned them against violence.
He promised that the state government would address the issues raised.(NAN)
