Thelma Osatohanmwen
In a demonstration of discontent, students at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo, took to the streets on Monday to protest against a increase in tuition imposed by the school management.
The students alleged that the school fees have been raised by more than 300 percent.
The protesters, armed with placards bearing messages such as “Let our parents breathe” and “No to increment,” voiced their discontent over the new fees imposed by the university’s management at the university’s main gate, chanting solidarity songs.
They emphasized their objection to the increased financial burden as they obstructed human and vehicular movements from accessing the campus.
NEWSTODAYNG gathered that their primary demand is for the management to revert to the previous tuition fee structure.
The President of the FUTA Student Union, Comrade Olayemi Oluwasoromidayo, appealed to the school management to reconsider the tuition, particularly in light of the current economic challenges.
Despite previous discussions between the student union and the administration, the management proceeded with the fee hike, further fueling the students’ dissatisfaction.
In response to the protests, the university’s management indefinitely postponed the resumption of the 2023–2024 academic session and instructed all students to vacate the campus within 24 hours.
The management clarified that tuition remains free, but certain consumables and payments for municipal services necessitated adjustments due to rising costs in the economy.
The Director of Corporate Communication, Adegbenro Adebanjo, stated, “The costs of such goods and services provided by the university for the students will certainly be impacted by the costs of goods and services in the economy.”
The revised charges include expenses for medical examinations, biometric ID cards, the Tertiary Institutions Students Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP), and the final yearbook.
The management assured students that a mechanism is in place to address concerns and build consensus on matters affecting them, emphasizing that tuition remains free.
The statement concluded, stating that ongoing efforts are underway to achieve consensus on the matter.
See Video Below;
FUTA protest is always peaceful adding to the peace is better vibes#WeWontDropout #NoToIncrement #FUTA pic.twitter.com/tn0Ya27ABu
— Ayomide Tosin (@oat_tosin) January 15, 2024