Education
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”.
The Ogun State Government has inaugurated a multi-sectoral Safe Schools Steering Committee as part of renewed efforts to strengthen security architecture across schools in the state amid rising concerns over the safety of pupils, students, and teachers.
The committee is expected to drive the formulation and implementation of policies, strategies, and intervention programmes aimed at preventing security breaches, enhancing emergency preparedness, and ensuring that schools remain safe, stable, and conducive for learning.
Inaugurating the committee in Abeokuta, the state capital, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, described the initiative as a deliberate and strategic response to emerging security challenges in the education sector.
He said the composition of the committee reflected a careful selection of professionals drawn from relevant sectors, based on competence, experience, and institutional responsibility.
According to him, the government recognises that schools can no longer be treated as isolated institutions, but must be protected through coordinated action involving government agencies, security operatives, communities, and development partners.
“The inauguration of the Ogun State Safe Schools Steering Committee is a strategic response aimed at strengthening collaboration among government agencies, security services, communities, development partners and all stakeholders in the education sector,” Arigbabu said.
He stressed that the task before the committee was urgent and non-negotiable, warning that the future of children in the state depended on the quality and timeliness of their decisions.
“As members of this committee, your selection was based on expertise, experience, and institutional responsibilities. This task is both important and urgent. The future of our children depends on the effectiveness of the decisions and actions we take today,” he said.
Arigbabu urged members to discharge their duties with “dedication, professionalism, integrity and a strong sense of purpose,” adding that every school in Ogun State must remain a place of safety, hope, and opportunity rather than fear.
“I therefore charge you to approach this assignment with dedication, professionalism, integrity, and a strong sense of purpose. Let us work together to ensure that every school in Ogun State remains a place of safety, learning, hope, and opportunity,” he added.
Other stakeholders at the inauguration reinforced the need for collective responsibility, stressing that school safety cannot rest on government alone but requires sustained collaboration from all segments of society.
They noted that communities, parents, security agencies, and development partners must work in synergy to safeguard learning environments and protect the future of children.
“As we inaugurate this committee today, let us recognise that school safety is not the responsibility of government alone. It is a shared responsibility requiring partnership, vigilance, innovation, and collective action,” one of the stakeholders said.
“The decisions we take and the commitment we make here today will contribute significantly to shaping the future of thousands of learners across our state,” the stakeholder added.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo State Wing, has directed all public primary and secondary school teachers in the state to embark on an indefinite strike over the continued abduction of teachers and pupils.
The strike, which takes effect from Monday, June 1, 2026, is expected to ground academic activities across public schools in the state.
The union said the action became imperative following what it described as growing insecurity in schools and the prolonged captivity of abducted teachers and pupils whose whereabouts remain unknown.
In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of the Oyo State Wing of the NUT, Hassan Fatai, and the Secretary, Salami Olukayode, the union expressed concerns over the psychological impact of the incidents on teachers, learners and parents.
According to the union, the lingering abduction cases have created fear and anxiety among teachers, weakened confidence in the safety of schools and discouraged many parents from sending their children to school.
The statement read in part, “The Nigeria Union of Teachers, Oyo State Wing, hereby directs all public primary and secondary school teachers across the state to commence an indefinite strike action effective from Monday, June 1, 2026, pending urgent and decisive action by relevant authorities on the abduction of teachers and pupils.”
The union explained that the industrial action was aimed at compelling the government and security agencies to intensify efforts toward the immediate and unconditional release of the victims.
It urged teachers across the state to comply fully with the directive, remain peaceful and law-abiding, and prioritise their safety while staying away from classrooms during the strike.
The NUT also expressed solidarity with the abducted victims and their families, assuring that it would continue to engage relevant authorities until the victims were safely rescued.
The union reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare, safety and security of teachers and pupils, stressing that the protection of school communities remained non-negotiable.
No fewer than 2,243,816 candidates on Thursday commenced the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board across accredited Computer-Based Test centres nationwide.
The figure represents a 10.5 per cent increase from the 2.03 million candidates recorded in 2025.
The examination, which began on April 16, is being conducted in about 1,000 CBT centres nationwide, with candidates scheduled in four daily sessions to reduce congestion and improve verification processes.
The board said it had deployed biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems to safeguard the integrity of the exercise, noting that candidates whose biometric details could not be authenticated would be rescheduled.
Candidates were advised to print their examination slips from the JAMB portal to confirm their schedules and arrive at least one hour before their examination time.
Under the revised timetable, first-session candidates are expected at 7:00 a.m., followed by 9:00 a.m. for the second session, 11:00 a.m. for the third session, and 2:00 p.m. for the final session.
JAMB disclosed that Lagos State recorded the highest number of registered candidates with 381,814, followed by Ogun with 137,156 and Oyo with 122,662. Kaduna recorded 103,498 candidates, while the Federal Capital Territory had 102,961.
Other states include Rivers with 105,584 candidates and Kano with 83,167, while Borno and Zamfara recorded the lowest figures with 13,483 and 14,861 candidates respectively.
Outside Nigeria, participation remained low, with Côte d’Ivoire recording 32 candidates, followed by Equatorial Guinea with 16, Burkina Faso with 14, and the United Kingdom with 12 candidates.
As part of efforts to enhance efficiency, the board increased the number of CBT centres but delisted 23 centres across several states, including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Delta, Edo, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory, over technical deficiencies observed during the mock examination.
The board said the action was necessary to maintain operational standards and ensure the credibility of the examination process.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force dismissed reports of insecurity at some centres, describing such claims as unfounded.
The police said it had deployed additional personnel, including patrol teams, perimeter surveillance units and rapid response squads, to ensure the safety of candidates nationwide.
The force added that it was collaborating with other security agencies to monitor the exercise and respond swiftly to any threats.
It assured parents and candidates of adequate security, urging candidates to comply with examination guidelines, arrive early and report suspicious activities.
The police also advised the public to disregard unverified information on social media and rely on official communication channels.
JAMB reiterated its commitment to transparency, warning candidates against accepting admissions outside its Central Admissions Processing System.
It stressed that any admission conducted outside CAPS would be considered illegal and would not be recognised.
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