UI announces three-week break following protests over fee hike

The University of Ibadan has announced a three-week break for students to complete their registration following recent protests over a fee hike. The decision was made by the university council and communicated in a memo released on Friday, detailing that the break will run from August 31 to September 20, 2024.

According to the circular, the Vice-Chancellor, on behalf of the Senate, approved the break after a meeting with the leadership of the Students Union. The break aims to provide students sufficient time to finalize their online registration for the 2023/2024 academic session.

The circular stated: “Following the meeting of University Management with the leadership of the Students Union today, Friday, 30 August 2024, the Vice-Chancellor, on behalf of Senate, has approved a three-week break for students of the University of Ibadan, effective from Saturday, 31 August 2024, to 20 September 2024. The hostels will reopen for students from 12 noon on Friday, 20 September 2024. Students are, therefore, to note the following:

• The three weeks are to give students ample time to complete their online registration. The 2023/2024 first semester examinations will now start on Monday, 23 September 2024.
• The portal for registration will be closed on Friday, 20 September 2024. There will be no reopening of the portal for fee payment or course registration after 20 September 2024.
• Students who do not register appropriately will not be allowed to write examinations.
• All students are to vacate the University Campus latest by 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, 31 August 2024,” it read.

The council emphasized the importance of adhering to the new registration deadline, warning that the registration portal would not reopen after the deadline passes: “Above is for strict adherence as the portal will not be opened after the deadline.”

“Students who have yet to complete their registration are advised to do so by September 20, 2024, as there will be no further extensions, and those who do not comply will be barred from participating in the first semester examinations,” it stated.
The announcement follows a wave of protests that erupted on the university campus in Oyo State after the governing council endorsed a recent fee hike. The protests, which began on Friday, saw students expressing strong dissatisfaction and demanding a reversal of the decision.

The fee increment was announced in a statement signed by the Registrar, G.O. Saliu, following an inaugural meeting of the governing council. The council stated that the increase was based on recommendations from the university’s Senate.

However, the recent development shows that the university has acknowledged the concerns of the students by granting an extension via the break, as the initial circular had stipulated September 4 as the deadline for completing registrations.