Students enrolled in Ogun State-owned tertiary institutions, under the banner of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ogun State chapter, are vehemently calling for the immediate reversal of recently imposed tuition fee hikes.
The gravity of their discontent was articulated during a press conference held in Abeokuta, the state capital, where NANS Chairman, Francis Adeyanju, passionately addressed the media.
Expressing deep concern, Adeyanju asserted that the tuition fee increments seemed to be a deliberate move to render education financially burdensome for both students and the general populace of the state.
Standing alongside him was Kehinde Mathew, the National President of the National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS), who echoed the sentiment of discontent among the student community.
Adeyanju went on to vehemently denounce what he deemed an “abnormal” surge in fees across the state-owned tertiary institutions.
He not only criticized the immediate financial strain this places on students but also lamented the broader impact on accessibility to quality education, particularly for vulnerable and indigent students in the state.
The NANS chairman took the opportunity to highlight what he perceived as a broader issue – the government’s apparent negligence of tertiary education in the state. He pointed to the current state of campuses, characterized by dilapidated infrastructure, a shortage of teaching and non-teaching staff, and an overall unconducive learning environment.
Adeyanju also underscored the unfortunate reality of staff salaries being in arrears, further compounding the challenges faced by the academic community.
Drawing attention to specific instances of fee hikes, Adeyanju cited examples such as Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), where returning students now face a substantial increase from N76,500 to N180,000 per session.New students at the same institution are now required to pay as much as N230,000.
Similar instances were highlighted at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), where science students saw their fees jump from N62,000 to N120,000, while non-science students face an increase from N55,000 to a range of N150,000 to N155,000.
The Ogun State Polytechnic of Health and Allied Sciences was not exempt from these changes, as indigenous students witnessed a surge from N67,000 to N109,000, while non-indigenous students now face fees of N124,000, up from N77,400.
Adeyanju emphasized that these instances are emblematic of an alarming trend of abnormal fee increments across the state’s tertiary institutions.
In a strong-worded message, Adeyanju criticized the government’s perceived insensitivity to the plight of students and the overall development of education in the state.
He stressed that while the government has the liberty to explore diverse funding sources, increasing fees at tertiary institutions should not be one such avenue.
The NANS Chairman concluded by issuing a four-day ultimatum to the Ogun State Government, demanding the reversal of all fee increments in state-owned institutions.
Should the government fail to meet this ultimatum, Adeyanju warned of widespread protests that would mobilize students across the state, potentially leading to a complete shutdown until their demands are met.
The battle lines have been drawn, and the students are resolute in their quest for accessible and affordable education in Ogun State.
