The National Association Of University Students Osun State Campus Monitoring Commitee (NAUS CMC) has given the Management of Obafemi Awolowo
University (OAU) 78hrs to reverse the new increment of tuition fees.
It would recalled that the management of the University had on Tuesday announced the new school fees payable by both new and returning students of the institution ahead of the resumption for the 2023 academic session, which was revealed its Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju.
The Union, through its chairman, Comr. Popoola Olayinka popular know as Itesiwaju inconjunction with the Obafemi Awolowo University students union called on the management to do the needful by reversed the increment the within the days or face the hardest-ever student uprising.
In a statement on Friday joining signed by the Chairman, Comr. Popoola Olayinka.O (ITESIWAJU),
General Secretary, Comr. Akinleye Okiji (OTUNBA), Comr. Adebisi Emmanuel
(Mr Love) Public Relations Officer.
The statement read, "OAU Ile-Ife Tuition Fee Increment Must Be Reversed Now!
"Education is our right not a previledged and the only means to achieve progress and success in a sane society".
"The National Association of University Students in Osun State, NAUS decries the about 400% hike in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, tuition fees.
"At a time when the economic situation in the country is at its lowest ebb, when the realities of the hardship is bitting harder then ever, when families can no longer afford three sqaure meals, it is satanic, and desperately wicked for a school management to choose to increase tuition fees from #19,000 to #190,000 . It is more sad that a university like Obafemi Awolowo University which was founded in the spirit of community development and ditching out free education has eventually begun the move to commercialise/privatize its institution leaving the indigent students with no choice than to withdraw from school and become a wanderer on the streets.
"Further more, This is also a note of warning to other universities and universities affiliates within the state, who are already planning to increase their fees to further crush education in Nigeria, to think twice and source for alternative sources of funds elsewhere to meet their needs.
"Itherwise, they should be ready to receive us as unusual guests who will come and reside in their abode and offices until they yield to our demands.”
"The actions and inactions of our government and management of these institution (Obafemi Awolowo university) put our parents under severe burden and a state of helplessness whenever they come up with these unthoughtful policies.
"Majority of these parents are of average and low classes in society who are already battling with subsidy removal that did not come with any form of palliatives or salary increament for the civil servants and employees amongst them
"The businessmen and women are also battling with the high cost of goods and the decrease in patronage they experience on a daily basis.
"The cost of living on the other hand is biting hard with prices of foodstuff and rent going up by over a hundred percent. The situation is alarming.
"This is why we are joining all other students bodies in appealing to the Government to declare a state of emergency on the Educational System and call the stakeholders to look for a lasting solution that will help the common man afford these prestigious government-established institutions when their children are qualified.
"If they refuse to declare it, we may do so for them. It is a very easy task for us to accomplish.
"Also, the management of Obafemi Awolowo university must, as a matter of urgency, revert its tuition fees to its usual amount. Failure to do this, OAU shall incur the wrath of the Nigerian Students, until our demands are met.
"NAUS CMC Osun, under the leadership of Comrade Olayinka Popoola in conjunction with the Obafemi Awolowo university students union hereby call on the Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo university,Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire and his entire management team to do the needful by ensuring that the increment vanishes by issuing a statement to that effect within the next 72 hours or face the wrath of the Nigerian students.