Authorities of the Bayelsa Medical University (BMU), Yenagoa, has denied rumours making the rounds that students and staff of the institution have been protesting alongside members of its host communities.
The Vice Chancellor of the instituion, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu said in a statement on Monday, October 18, that staff and students are in no way involved in the picketing by Onopa and Amarata communities.
Prof. Etebu described the act as unfortunate, explaining that the management of the university had held several meetings and interactions with representatives of the two communities and a way forward was being charted.
He stated that the BMU was set up with a specific mandate to produce medical professionals that are capable of being employed in careers in the diverse field of medical science in any part of the world and is focused on delivering on that mandate.
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According to him, currently, the university is setting up a solid foundation as well as academic programmes to stand the test of time but due to paucity of funds, it has been unable to employ all the manpower it needs and currently has two hundred and eight (208) temporary/casual staff awaiting regularization inclusive of the Onopa community members.
“The global conventional practice in employment is a standard ratio of academic and non-academic staff and the University is not in a position to regularise all the two hundred and eight staff for now, however efforts are being put in place to bring a lasting solution to the problem”, he said.
He noted that the university as an organ of government is committed to the development of Bayelsa State and will do so equitably while reporting to higher authorities, adding that nanagement of the BMU was handling the situation with the help of the appropriate authorities.
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