Students of the University of Ibadan (UI), located in Oyo State, have taken to the streets in protest against the recent hike in tuition fees for the 2023/2024 academic session, a decision made by the university’s governing council.
Reports indicate that the fees were raised from N230,000 to N412,000, sparking outrage among the student body.
In a statement dated August 30, 2024, signed by the Students’ Union President, Aweda Bolaji, and released through the General Secretary, Ogundijo Dolapo Japheth, the union voiced its strong opposition to the fee increase.
During a protest held on August 29, 2024, from 10:20 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., the students unanimously declared their rejection of the council’s decision. “We reject the decision made by the governing council,” the statement emphasized.
The students have called for a “total boycott of classes until our demands are met.”
The statement further detailed the students’ demands, including the immediate reversal of the fee increase and the closure of the payment portal within 24 hours, pending the resolution of their grievances.
The protest, which began on August 29th, is set to continue until the students’ demands are addressed. The Students’ Union has also urged its members to actively participate in the movement through social media using the hashtags #UIFEESMUSTFALL and #SAVEUITES.
Additionally, the union announced that resources would be made available for further mobilization efforts, scheduled to start at 5:00 a.m. on Friday.
On Thursday, a circular signed by the council’s secretary, G.O. Saliu, informed students of the approved fee increase, following a meeting where the revised schedule of levies for both new and returning undergraduate students for the 2023/2024 academic session was endorsed by the university Senate.
The circular also advised students who have yet to pay and complete their registration to do so by Wednesday, September 4, 2024, in order for their departments to finalize the list of registered students for the first semester examinations.
The council justified the fee hike by citing the prevailing economic situation and encouraged students to take advantage of the Federal Government’s student loan fund and available scholarships to help ease the financial burden.