UI students protest governing council’s approval of fee hike
Students of the University of Ibadan are protesting the university governing council’s endorsement of school fee hike.
The protests followed a circular issued Thursday.
The circular indicated that the council, adopted the university Senate’s recommendations on the revised schedule of levies for returning and newly admitted undergraduate students for the 2023–2024 academic year.
The circular also urged students yet pay and complete their registration exercises do so by Wednesday, September 4, 2024, to allow departments download lists of registered students in advance of the first semester exam.
The council used the state of the economy as justification for the fee hike and encouraged students to apply for financial aid from the Federal Government’s student loan fund, the institution, and other philanthropists.
In reaction, students reportedly poured out of the dorms in large numbers, screaming songs and solidarity slogans as they made their way across campus, according to multiple recordings.
For their participation in a demonstration in May against an increase in tuition, three students were scheduled to appear before a disciplinary panel in July.
The National Association of Nigerian Students protested the “outrageous” increase in tuition for incoming UI students in April, pointing out that the move will place additional financial strain on already struggling families. The price rise for the 2023–2024 academic session, ranged from N230,000 to 412,000.
