OAU students threaten violence over hike in tuition fee

Students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU) Ile-Ife, Osun State, yesterday threatened to resume their suspended protest over hike in tuition fee, insisting not to leave stone unturned until their demands were met by the authorities. The students who were forced on a compulsory break following their protest on the increased fee vowed to resume their agitation whenever the force midsemester break was over.

One of them, Adesola, who claimed to have spoken others’ mind, said there was no going back on their agitation to force the institution’s authorities to back down on the astronomical increase in tuition fee. Adesola who painted a gory picture of the hike in tuition fee, said the institution’s authorities may force majority of the students out of school should it continue with the ‘exorbitant’ fee of ‘#61,700, Acceptance fee of #20,000 while old students pay #19,700, medical students pay #75,700 while old students paid 30,700, Clinical pay 75,700, older students 30,700, Pharmacy 75, 700 while old students pay #30,700. Adesola said:

“The students put their payment in Technology as 72,700, old students: #27,700,Environmental Management: #72, 700 old students:# 27, 700,Science : #72, 700 old students:# 27,700,Law : #61, 700,old students #19, 700,Agric: #72, 700, old students #27,700 and Social sciences #61,700, old students #19,700”.

This, Adesola and others described as outrageous, saying there would be no peace on campus until the authorities ensure downward review of the fee.The Students’ Union President, Mr. Omotayo Akande, who echoed Adesola’s position, said “our demands are more than just light and water as the horrendous living condition of our hostels requires rapt attention.

“The union has exhausted the tool of diplomacy without getting reasonable concession on how our welfare condition will be improved.” “For instance, a room in Moremi Hall caught fire and the ladies couldn’t get a fire extinguisher in the hall block. This, among other things corroborates our demand for proper hostel facilities.”

Awolowo Hall Chairman, Opeyemi Aina, was not different as he described the students’ welfare on campus as ‘pitiable’. “Our welfare is more important to us than anything as it’s a foundation for us to have sound understanding of what we are being taught. We are experiencing poor network, bad toilet. We are not happy with the improper funding of education, Aina said