BY TIMOTHY AGBOR
Some students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Monday, protested the hike in the acceptance fee paid by newly admitted students among other issues.
The students, who gathered at the campus gate as early as 7am, demanded for the removal of their rector.
Armed with placards bearing inscriptions such as, “No To Increment of Tuition Fee,” “Rector Must Go,” “Release our Result ASAP,” among others, the protesters also complained of delay in result, shortage of staff and increment in the acceptance fee for fresh students.
Men of the Nigeria Police Force were also present at the scene.
The Students Union President of the institution, Babatunde Adelola, noted that the management alleged that the institution is not getting adequate subsidy from the state government, which prompted the hike in acceptance fee paid by fresh students from N35,000 to N50,500.
Adelola lamented the delay in release of results, which often lasted one year for a semester result to be released.
This, he said, has affected the academic performances of students.
“We have many reasons to protest. Recently, the school said they are not getting funding from the state government and they need to generate funds internally which was why they increased the acceptance fee from N35,000 to N50,500.
“Aside from the hike in fee, the delay in the release of our result is affecting students. For instance, those who graduated last session are yet to be mobilised for service, I am in HND 2 second semester and I am yet to see the result of the exams I did in HND 1 second semester. This is affecting students because they do not know their academic standing and how well to prepare for next exams,” said.
Adelola noted that all efforts made by the students’ body to dialogue with the polytechnic’s Rector, Adeoye Odedeji, has proved abortive due to his unavailability.
He, however, demanded immediate reversal of the fee and urgent release of outstanding results.
“We requested to meet the Rector through the DSA but we were told that he is not available. They gave us another appointment again which they did not honour. Last Monday when the non-academic staff decided to protest was when they asked us to meet again but it also failed.
“We are demanding immediate reversal of the acceptance fee back to status-quo and urgent release of outstanding results,” he concluded.
Another student of the institution, Olamide Ojelade, expressed fear that the increase in acceptance fee can also lead to increase in school fee if tolerated.
Ojelade declared, “The acceptance used to be N25,500 before it was increased to N35,000 and now it has been increased to N50,500. Before they increase school fees again, that is why we are protesting.”
The Public Relations Officer of the institution, “Yemi Ajibola, said that the students did not inform the school of their grievances which makes it difficult for such grievances to be addressed.
“The management is not aware of their grievances because they did not inform us of any reason why they are protesting. The management needs to be informed of what their grievances are for the management to be able to sit and deliberate on it. If they channel their grievances appropriately, it will be attended to,” Ajibola concluded.
