At the height of this session’s accommodation hustle, Zikites invariably have intriguing tales to tell. From freshers realising the drastic difference between Zik hall’s bed spaces and their comfy bedrooms back at home, to stalites playing every trick in the book to get on the accommodation list, still, the highly competitive process is one to beat. However, when the accommodation game is technically rigged there is greater cause for worry.
On the evening of Tuesday, 8th of February, the online portal was opened for finalists to make payments for accommodation. Paying in time creates the opportunity of selecting the best bed space, and possibly fulfilling the Block D dream of every finalist. However, for finalists in the faculty of Basic Medical Sciences (BMS), securing a room in Zik hall might be out of option.
It came to the attention of ZHPO that while other finalists have made payments and have cleared their rooms, the online portal was never opened for finalists from BMS and has remained so till the time of making this report. David, a finalist in BMS disclosed to ZHPO that his portal is not yet opened for payment. He stated that instead of reflecting the option for ‘accommodation levy’, what shows instead is an option to pay ‘additional fee’. Jude, a final year student of Biochemistry makes the same claim about his portal. David also vented to ZHPO about his ordeal with ITEMS, operators of UI’s electronic platform. He explained that he had gone there to complain and they had promised to rectify the error but without more.
He further made it known that the BMS’ faculty President, Mr. Azeez Ibrahim, is aware of the situation. In a conversation with Mr. Azeez, he elaborates that the situation is a general one and a complaint has been lodged to the school authorities. He says, “It’s a general problem of all the finalists in the faculty. I have complained to the Dean of Students’ Affairs and he told me that the matter is being looked into”
Mr Azeez also provided records of his chat with the Dean of Students, who in his reply to the issue is quoted to have stated, “It’s been addressed. I have been to MIS personally this morning”. The Dean made this known on the morning of Tuesday, 15th February. However, as at the evening of the same day, finalists in BMS are yet to see any changes on their portal.
The looming implication if this issue remains unresolved in time is that the affected finalists may lose their automatic accommodation slots as they would remain unable to pay. This is probable given that the payment portal for finalists has now been officially closed and that of stalites expected to be opened anytime soon. If the ordinarily large number of selected stalites fill up the available spaces nothing will be left for these finalists even if their portal is opened afterwards for payment. For David, Jude and others in their shoes, accommodation prospects in their final year remains bleak.
Saint
