Embittered students at the University of Ibadan (UI) in Oyo State have staged a protest following the university governing council’s decision to hike the school fees for the 2023/2024 academic session.
According to reports, the fees were increased from N230,000 to N412,000, which triggered instant reactions among the student body.
What They’re Saying
A statement dated August 30, 2024, signed by the union president, Aweda Bolaji, and issued through the General Secretary, Ogundijo Dolapo Japheth, had stated that the Students’ Union rejected the decision made by the governing council.
“At the protest held on August 29, 2024, from 10:20 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., the students resolved that: We reject the decision made by the governing council,” it read in part, adding that the students had called for a “total boycott of classes till our demands are fulfilled”
“The students demand a reversal of the school fees. The students demand that the school fees portal be shut down within 24 hours until our demands are met.”
“The protest that began on August 29th will continue until our demands are fulfilled. The students are encouraged to make full use of social media, and the hashtags #UIFEESMUSTFALL and #SAVEUITES must be used.”
Finally, the statement added that the Students’ Union will make its resources available for mobilisation, which will begin at 5:00 a.m. on Friday.
Why This Happened
The situation had deteriorated when the council’s secretary, F.O. Saliu, released a circular on Thursday, announcing that following a meeting, the council had approved the revised schedule of levies for newly admitted and returning undergraduate students for the 2023/2024 academic session, as stipulated by the university Senate.
This notice further advised that students who have yet to pay and complete their registration should do so by Wednesday, September 4, 2024, so that departments will be able to prepare lists of registered students for the first semester examinations.
The council had also explained the fee increase by referencing the present economic conditions and encouraged students to take advantage of the Federal Government’s student loan fund, and the scholarships provided by the university and various philanthropists to aid those in financial need.
