Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, have been urged to suspend payment of tuition fees, following the slash in fee hike by the management of the institution.
The Students’ Union President of the varsity, Abass Akinremi Ojo; and Secretary General, Akinboni Opeyemi, made the call in a statement they jointly signed on Tuesday and made available to our correspondent.
They commended the management of the OAU for the willingness to make concessions and reductions in the fees.
However, the leadership of the union disclosed that no agreement was made with the school management as regards the increment of school fees.
The management of OAU reviewed the school fees payable by the students of the university.
A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Abiodun Olanrewaju, obtained in Osogbo on Monday stated that the management reduced the fees after a meeting held with the students.
Olanrewaju had said that the Students Union leaders were adamant, insisting that the fees should be reduced by 50 per cent.
He added that the university management made it clear that the new charges were the minimum the university required to run efficiently.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, however, stated that the charges initially announced have been reduced as follows:
“For the students in Humanities, the initial sundry charges of #89, 200 for returning students have been reduced to #76,000 while for the new students in the Humanities, the initial fees of #151,200 have been reduced to #131,000.
“For those in the Sciences and Technology, the initial charges of #101,200, for returning students is now #86,000 while the new students in the same Faculties will now pay #141,000 instead of the initial #163,200.
“In the same vein, the returning students in the Pharmacy and College of Health Sciences will now pay #109,000, instead of #128,200. The new students in the same Faculties will now pay #164,000 instead of the initial charges of #190,000,” the statement partly read.
It added that the university management has agreed that the payment can be made in two equal installments.
Meanwhile, the union while explaining why there was no agreement with the school management as regards the increment of school fees said, “The leadership of the union recognises the supremacy of congressional resolutions and on this basis, has not been authorised to agree to any other figure besides the 50 per cent increase as agreed at the congress.”
The statement disclosed that the leadership of the union would meet with the relevant committee set up by the congress and would also table the discussions with the management before the congress for open deliberation by students.
“On this note, we hereby urge students of our noble union to suspend any payment activities until a final and favourable agreement has been made,” the leadership of the union concluded.
