The Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has shown dissatisfaction to a new increment of tuition fee by the school managements.
The managements of the institution announced that it has adjusted the fees students of the institution would be paying this session.
The Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, of the University, in a stated in a release made available to newsmen on Wednesday, that for those in the Faculties of Arts, Law and Humanities, the ‘freshers’ (newly admitted students) will pay N151,200 while returning students of the same faculties will pay N89,200.
According to the statement, “For those in the Faculties of Technology and Science, the new students will pay N163, 200 and the returning students of the same faculties are to pay N101, 200.
“In addition, the new students being admitted into the Faculties in the College of Health Sciences, and the Faculty of Pharmacy are to pay N190, 200 ( new students) and N128, 200 ( returning students) respectively.
“The decision was taken by the Senate of the University at its emergency meeting on Tuesday, 12th September, 2023.
“The management, therefore, wishes the students resounding success in their academic programmes.
“The above adjustable fees are just for an academic session.”
However, it was gathered that returning students in the Faculties of Arts, Law and Humanities paid about N23,000 before while the returning students of the College of Health Sciences, paid N31,000, before this development.
Meanwhile, the Student’s Union leaders of the institution has condemned the increments and declared that it would not stand.
A statement signed by the President and Secretary General of the union, Abbas Ojo, and Akinboni Opeyemi, respectively expressed their displeasure, saying they were not involved in how the new fees came about.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a proposed school fees change circulating. We are stating our displeasure with the management of Obafemi Awolowo University, as the Federal Government has debunked involvement in any form of increment in tuition fees.
“The leadership of the Student’s Union, privy to the incessant increment in other Federal Higher Institutions, has been working tirelessly to ensure Obafemi Awolowo University is kept out of the trending hike in fees.
“While the leadership of the union is dissatisfied with this inimical increment, we want to use this medium to address our union members and urge them to remain calm, as all hands are on deck.
“We are going to exhaust all reasonable options that will be soothing to the common student that we all are. We will reach out to the necessary quarters on how to rectify this, bring back normalcy, and what can be generally accepted,” the statement read.
