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Youths in Otukpo are set to meet with the current Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, to demand clarity and justice regarding the allocation of employment slots meant for the host community.
The planned meeting follows a recent public protest by the youths, who accused top officials at the university of manipulating the recruitment process. According to a statement by the Igbede Unity Forum signed by Comrade Ichibe Adah, a reliable source revealed that the school management had released employment slots specifically for Otukpo youths. However, individuals at the top level allegedly submitted names of their own cousins and associates instead of qualified indigenes from the host community.
The youths insist they will not allow the slots to be shared privately after staging a public protest. “We’ll get the full details when we meet with the Vice Chancellor because we can’t let the slots be shared privately after a public protest,” the statement read. They further warned that after resolving the current employment issue, the next focus would be the “university teaching hospital employment saga.”
The protest, which saw youths carrying placards and marching through the streets, was aimed at drawing attention to what they described as marginalisation and lack of transparency in job opportunities at the institution located in their community.
The development has sparked widespread discussions in Otukpo, with many residents expressing support for the youths’ demand for fairness and inclusivity in the recruitment exercise. The upcoming meeting with the Vice Chancellor is expected to provide answers and possibly lead to a review of the employment process to ensure that indigenes of the host community benefit as intended.
The Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, remains a significant institution in the area, and stakeholders hope the dialogue will promote peace and equitable opportunities for the youths of Otukpo.
