UI stakeholders’ meeting ends in deadlock as parents, students reject fees increment

PARENTS, students and other stakeholders who stormed the University of Ibadan, UI Trenchard Hall for the stakeholders meeting on the proposed accommodation fees and training fees increment for medical students by the university Senate has rejected the proposed increment.

The Vice Chancellor of the  university, Professor Idowu Olayinka on Tuesday in his presentation while speaking on the need for the increment said the increment was necessary due to the present state of the institution.

On the contrary, the parents as well as the students whom furiously rejected the proposed increment, also called for the reversal with immediate effect.

According them, the university should annul its decision due to the current economic situation which is making the existing fees unaffordable for some parents and indigent students.

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The institution had last Thursday embarked on a protest against the 114 per cent increment in the accommodation fees which was increased from N14,000 to N30,000, while the Medical students are billed to pay N40, 000.

The institution in a bid to forestall breakdown of laws and order, as gathered on Saturday ordered with immediate effect, the closure of the Medical students Hall of residence.

Mega Icon Magazine further checks revealed that the Medical students who were the most affected, on Sunday embarked on sit out protest against what they described as injustice to them and their parents by the Senate of the university.

The parents who spoke during the stakeholders’ meeting maintained that the meeting which came more than a week after the proposed fees was announced was like “putting a cart before the horse.”

According to Mr. Fashina Olusegun, one of the parents who rejected the increment told our reporter that it was unfortunate that the university is coming with the new fees without acknowledging the present economic realities in the country.

Also, another parent, Elder M.O. Oduronbi said the purpose of sending their wards to public institutions would have been frustrated if the new fees are effected.

Oduronbi added that many of them are either government workers or retirees just as he stressed that they are finding it difficult to pay the existing fees let alone of the proposed one.

Moving a motion for the reversal of the fees, he noted that the university management is also aware that the new minimum wage has not changed from N18,000, saying the university should not task them the money that they will not be able to pay in line with the current worker’s wages.

Oduronbi statement reads; “We can’t train our children in private universities that is why we brought them here, minimum wage is still N18,000, but at the same time, this meeting should have come before now. It is like putting the cart before the horse.

“What we are saying is that if this must be done, it suppose to be gradual. The new fees is from N14,000 to N30,000, what percentage is that, it is not fair. What I am saying is that, it should be reversed. And after that, another meeting will be called where we will now decide. Senate cannot decide for us. I am now moving a motion for the reversal of the fees. Anyone who is seconded should raise his hand.”

In a related development, one of the students and a former Hall Chairman, Boluwatife Ajijola maintained that there is no reason for such increment because the institution had failed them severally, alleging that it is not the type of the students identity card that they paid for, that the institution issued for them.

Ajijola who also rejected the increment, alleged that many will be surprised that the money will not be used for the purpose for which it was meant for.

Other students in their own explanations during the protest explained that some of them are even finding it difficult to pay the existing fees.

The placards displayed by the students while speaking with newsmen declared not to resume until the fees is reversed reads : ” SAY NO TO FEES INCREMENT”, “NO REVERSAL, NO RESUMPTION “, PARENTS, STUDENTS AND WORKERS MUST BE INVOLVED IN DECISION MAKING OF THE UNIVERSITY”, WHERE IS ASUU/FG N3 BILLION SPECIAL INTERVENTION FUNDS”.