Obafemi Awolowo University students in Ile-Ife, Osun State, have called on the Federal Government to reverse a recent tuition fee hike at the institution. The President and General Secretary of the Students’ Union, Abbas Ojo and Akinboni Sunday, made this demand in a statement.
Last Wednesday, the university management announced adjustments to the fees that students would be required to pay for the upcoming academic session.
In their statement, the students highlighted the importance of education and the current state of education funding in Nigeria. They expressed concern that education was becoming a choice only for the wealthy due to fee increases and chronic underfunding of education in the country.
The student union called on the university management to reverse the fee increment and urged financial institutions, particularly Remita, to suspend fee payments from OAU students until the issue was resolved. They warned that campus activities might be shut down if their demands were not met.
Additionally, the students called on the federal government to increase the budget allocation for education, ensure schools are well-equipped and staffed, and implement policies that address barriers to education. They also urged the government to establish scholarship and financial aid programs to alleviate the financial burden on students and their families.
The students’ union is seeking viable solutions to tackle the fee increment and improve the accessibility and quality of education in Nigeria.