JUST IN:STUDENTS OF UI PROTESTS INCREASE OF SCHOOL FEES, ESCORTS LECTURER OUT OF THE CLASS.

Students at the University of Ibadan (UI) in Oyo State have taken to the streets in protest following the university governing council's decision to increase school fees for the 2023/2024 academic session.

It was gathered that fees were increased from N230,000 to N412,000, which triggered reactions among the student body.

 

In a statement dated August 30, 2024, signed by the union president, Aweda Bolaji, and issued through the General Secretary, Ogundijo Dolapo Japheth, 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 reads in part.

The students called for a “total boycott of classes till our demands are fulfilled"’

 

According to the statement, "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.”

 

He added that the Students' Union will make its resources available for mobilisation, which will start at 5:00 a.m. on Friday.

 

In a circular issued on yesterday by the council’s secretary, G.O. Saliu, it was announced 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 recommended by the university Senate.

 

The circular further advised that students who have not yet paid and completed their registration should do so by Wednesday, September 4, 2024, to allow departments to prepare lists of registered students for the first semester examinations.

 

The council also justified the fee increase by referencing current economic conditions and encouraged students to take advantage of the Federal Government’s student loan fund, as well as scholarships provided by the university and various philanthropists to assist those in financial need.

Following the ongoing protest that broke out late on Thursday over the fee increment approval by the Governing Council of the institution, the management has scheduled a meeting with the Students Union leadership, UCJUI has learnt.

The meeting is scheduled to hold at 3 pm this afternoon at the Trenchard hall premises.

Seems the decision of the Governing council didn't go well with the students as they disrupts lectures, today.

Student protest reached a critical point today as protesters disrupted a class at the Abo Desalu Lecture Theatre, sending the lecturer out and preventing students from writing a scheduled test.

As part of the broader boycott of lectures across campus, protesters entered the lecture theatre, insisting that no academic activities take place until their demands for a reversal of the tuition fee hike are met.

The lecturer was escorted out of the theatre, and students who had gathered to write a test were told to leave, with protesters making it clear that the boycott was to be strictly enforced.