Students of Obafemi-Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, are considering taking action to shut down activities at the institution. This decision follows the announcement by the university’s management of a 300 percent increase in tuition fees.
According to Abiodun Olarewaju, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, this tuition fee hike was decided upon during an emergency management meeting held last week.
During a press conference on Monday, the Students Union Government (SUG), led by its President, Abbas Akinremi-Ojo, expressed strong opposition to the fee increase and threatened to take action if the OAU management did not reverse its decision.
President Ojo stated, “We’ve also written to all respective banks to halt the acceptance of fee payments from any student until a better resolution has been achieved. As much as we don’t want to, we are currently running out of options and might have to shut down all activities on campus and progressively on all other federal institutions campuses in Nigeria because we are carrying the leadership of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) along.”
He further explained that student leaders had engaged in negotiations with the university management in August upon learning of the plans to increase school fees. However, these negotiations were unsuccessful, and the management proceeded to announce the new fees. Ojo emphasized that the management’s claim of reduced funding from the Federal Government was contradicted by recent data showing OAU as the ninth top-funded university, with a budget allocation of N13.4 billion.
Likewise, the National Association of Universities Students (NANS), represented by its Chairman, Olayinka Popoola in Osogbo, warned other universities considering fee hikes, stating that universities must seek alternative funding sources to meet their financial needs.
