The National Association of Nigerian Students has condemned the recent hike in tuition fees at the University of Ibadan, describing the move as oppressive and anti-students.
The student body called on the Federal Government and other relevant stakeholders to urgently intervene in what it termed the unjust treatment of students.
Following the increase in fees, UI management directed students to embark on a three-week break, starting from Saturday, August 31, to Friday, September 20, 2024, after a series of protests by the students.
In a statement released in Ibadan on Wednesday, the Senate President of NANS, Akinteye Babatunde, criticised the administration of UI’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, for ignoring the students’ concerns over the fee hike, saying the decision has inflicted hardship on thousands of Nigerian students.
“The Vice-Chancellor’s lack of regard for students’ welfare is glaring in the way he chose to hike fees without addressing the genuine concerns raised by the Students Union. Instead of engaging with the students, he took the cowardly step of sending them home for three weeks,” Babatunde said.
He described the forced closure as a calculated attempt to silence the students and weaken the union’s fight against what they perceived as unjust policies.
“Since Professor Adebowale assumed office, life has become unbearable for students. His refusal to extend the deadline for tuition payment, despite multiple pleas from the Students Union, shows he is uninterested in the academic future or welfare of the students,” the NANS Senate President added.
Babatunde praised the efforts of the Students Union and NELFUND, an initiative that has provided financial support to students struggling with the increased fees.
He noted that without such assistance, many students would have been forced to drop out due to the financial burden.
NANS further demanded that the Federal Government and other stakeholders intervene swiftly to bring an end to what it called the “oppressive” policies of the UI management.
Babatunde stressed that the interests of the students must be prioritized over the personal gains of any Vice-Chancellor, vowing that Nigerian students would not relent until justice is served.
