Babatunji Wusu –
On Monday, some students from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic in Abeokuta, Ogun State, gathered at the school’s entrance to voice their displeasure over a number of issues, including the increase in the acceptance fee paid by newly accepted students.
The students gathered at the university entrance as early as 7 a.m., carrying signs that read, among other things, “No to Tuition Fee Increase,” “Rector Must Go,” and “Release Our Result ASAP.”
There were also men from the Nigerian Police Force on the site.
Problems affecting students included late results, a staffing shortfall, and an increase in the admittance price for new students.
Babatunde Adelola, the institution’s students union governor, said that the management claimed the school was not receiving enough state funding, which led to a rise in the admittance fee for new students from N35,000 to N50,500.
Adelola bemoaned the one-year average waiting period for the delivery of a semester’s results.
According to him, this has a negative impact on students’ academic performances.
“There are numerous reasons for us to protest. The school recently hiked the admittance fee from N35,000 to N50,500, citing a lack of finance from the state government and the necessity to raise money internally.
“In addition to the cost increase, students are being impacted by the delay in the announcement of our results. For instance, those who graduated in the previous session have not yet been called up for duty. I am currently enrolled in HND 2’s second semester and have not yet received the results of the tests I took during HND 1’s second semester. Students are being impacted since they are unsure of their academic standing and how to adequately prepare for upcoming tests.
Adelola pointed out that due to Adeoye Odedeji’s unavailability, all attempts by the student body to communicate with him had failed.
However, he requested that the price be reversed right away and that any unfinished results be released right away.
We asked the DSA to set up a meeting for us with the Rector, but we were informed that he was not available. They once more scheduled us for an appointment, which they did not keep. They requested us to meet again last Monday after the non-academic workers chose to protest, but that too failed.
“We are demanding an immediate return to the previous acceptance fee and the urgent release of outstanding results,” he said in his conclusion.
Olamide Ojelade, a different student at the university, voiced concern that, if tolerated, the increase in the admittance fee could also result in an increase in the school tuition.
“The acceptance used to be N25,500 before it was raised to N35,000, and now it is raised to N50,500,” proclaimed Ojelade. We are demonstrating before they raise school fees once more.
Yemi Ajibola, the institution’s public relations officer, claimed that because the students did not report their complaints to the school, it is difficult to address their complaints.
“Because they didn’t tell us why they were demonstrating, the administration is unaware of their complaints. For the management to be able to sit down and think about it, they must be made aware of their complaints. people would be addressed if people properly channel their complaints, Ajibola said.
