19th September, 2023
An ultimatum given by the Students’ Union of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, to the authorities, asking for a reversal of recent fee hike, will expire 19 September.
President of the union, Abass Ojo said on Monday if the authorities failed to rescind the increase, the students will begin a series of peaceful protests.
Ojo said that students’ unions in all the federal universities are in accord to fight against fee increment in all schools in the country.
According to him, it is OAU Students’ Union that is delaying the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) at the state and federal level on when to shut activities in various campuses.
“We are the one keeping others waiting. We told them to exercise patience until after the ongoing dialogue with the management,” he said.
Ojo said that the excuse given by the school management that the increment was due to the fact that the Federal Government only pay staff salaries, while the university is responsible for other expenses, was not tenable.
Ojo called on the Federal Government to increase budgetary allocation to the education sector toward providing quality education
OAU in a release by its Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, disclosed that the decision to hike the tuition was taken by the Senate of the University at its emergency meeting on Sept. 12