Image credit Oasdom
There are indications that students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State will embark on unrest to press home their demand for reduction in tuition fees.
The planned unrest is as a result of recent 300 per cent increment in the tuition fees by the school authority.
The institution’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, disclosed that the fee hike was approved following an last week’s emergency management meeting.
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During a press conference on Monday, the Students Union Government (SUG), headed by its President, Abbas Akinremi-Ojo, issued a warning that students would take action if the OAU administration did not reconsider its decision.
Expressing his opposition to the move, Ojo remarked, “We have also communicated with all relevant banks, urging them to suspend the acceptance of fee payments from students until a more equitable resolution can be reached.”
“While we are reluctant to do so, we are rapidly exhausting our alternatives and may need to cease all campus activities, potentially affecting federal institutions across Nigeria. We are collaborating with the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) in this endeavor.”
Ojo further noted that student leaders had engaged in negotiations with the university’s management in August after learning of the proposed fee increase. However, their efforts were rebuffed, and the new fee was subsequently announced. The university administration cited a lack of Federal Government funding as the reason for the increase. Nonetheless, a recent budget release on September 15th, 2023, ranked OAU as the ninth most generously funded university, with a budget allocation of N13.4 billion.
Additionally, the National Association of Universities Students (NANS), represented by its Chairman, Olayinka Popoola, in Osogbo, cautioned other universities contemplating fee hikes.
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