The leadership of the students’ union of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has appealed to the university management to reverse the recent increase in tuition fees.

Abass Ojo, the president of the union, made the appeal at a news conference at the university premises in Ile-Ife on Monday.

The institution had, in a release by its public relations officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, disclosed that the decision to hike the tuition was taken by the Senate of the university at its emergency meeting on Sept. 12. 

Mr Ojo said that the leadership of the union had issued a five-day ultimatum to the school management to reverse fee increment, starting from Sept. 15 to Sept. 19.

He said that if the school management refused to reverse the increment after the ultimatum, the union would embark on series of peaceful protests and other activities.

Mr Ojo said that students’ union in all the federal universities were in accord to fight against tuition increments in all campuses in the country.

According to him, it is OAU students’ union that is delaying the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) at the state and federal levels on when to shut activities in various campuses.

“We are the ones keeping others waiting. We told them to exercise patience until after the ongoing dialogue with the management,” he said.

Mr Ojo said that the excuse given by the school management that the increment was due to the fact that the federal government only pay staff salaries, while the university is responsible for other expenses, was not tenable.

Mr Ojo called on the federal government to increase budgetary allocation to the education sector toward providing quality education.

(NAN)