JUST IN Fresh Protests Erupt at University of Ibadan Over Ratification of Fees Hike By Governing Council

By:Dare Adebesin, Israel Adeleke

Barely a month after three students faced disciplinary panel for their participation in a campus protest that took place in May, another vehement protest has erupted at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State on Friday night.

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News gathered that the students commenced the fresh protest after the governing council of the university Ratifies a recent fee hike for students of the university.

OTN News correspondent in Ibadan, Dare Adebesin reported that the demonstrations started overnight, around 12.30 am on Friday, with students sending videos of the protests to social media.

The protests, OTN News gathered, were said to have been triggered by a circular issued Thursday by the Secretary of the Governing Council of the University named G.O. Saliu.

The circular, sighted by OTN News, stated that sequel to Council meeting on Thursday, the council had “considered the reviewed schedule of levies for newly admitted and returning undergraduate students in the 2023/2024 academic session and approved it as recommended by the university Senate.”

It further stated, “Consequently, students who are yet to pay and complete their registration exercises are advised to do so on or before Wednesday, September 4, 2024, to enable departments to download lists of registered students in preparation for the first semester examination.

The Council justified the fee increase by citing prevailing economic conditions and urged students to utilise the Federal Government’s student loan fund and other scholarships offered by the university and various philanthropists to support those in financial need.

OTN News recalls that the University of Ibadan is one of the beneficiary institutions of the Federal Government student loan initiative, from which we recently reported that the University received the payment of over N200 million naira from NELFUND as payment of school fees for benefiting students.

Following the development,students of the residential campus were seen in screaming and calling other students to come out and join the protests as they trooped out in their numbers from the hostels, chanting solidarity slogans and songs as they marched around campus.

A punchy and pushy rhetorical call to join the protests was heard being passed to other students by a student heard saying, "You have not paid your school fees, and you’re sleeping?” Others were screaming "Come out! Join us", "No Reversal of Fees Hike, No Exam". 

OTN News recalls that the three students who faced a disciplinary panel in July due to their involvement in a May protest against a fee hike on the campus are: Olamide Gbadegeshin from the Institute of African Studies, Aduwo Ayodele from History Department (200 level), and a female student, Nice Linus.

Student union leaders at the premier University have confirmed the protests saying "We are protesting against the ratification of hiked fees by the council. This is in response to the Governing Council’s release.”

Earlier in the year, the National Association of Nigerian Students kicked against the “outrageous” fee hike for the new UI students, citing financial burdens imposed on families already grappling with economic challenges.

The Public Relations Officer of the student body, Victor Igbudu, had said that "the fee increase for the 2023/2024 academic session, which ranged from N230,000 to 412,000, was “unacceptable.”

The protesting students who noted that the hike in their school fees is too outrageous and far beyond their reach to pay have threatened to sustain the protests until the new fees regime which one of the students claim amounts to about 300% increase is reversed.