Students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State, took to the streets on Monday, converging at the school gate to protest against the recent increase in the acceptance fee for newly admitted students, among other concerns.
The protesting students gathered early in the morning, starting at 7 am, carrying placards with messages like #No To Increment of Tuition Fee, #Rector Must Go, #Release our Result ASAP, and more.
They cited several issues affecting them, including delays in the release of results, a shortage of staff, and the acceptance fee hike for freshmen.
Babatunde Adelola, the Students Union Governor, explained that the institution’s management claimed that it was not receiving sufficient subsidies from the state government, leading to the acceptance fee increasing from N35,000 to N50,500 for freshmen.
Adelola expressed concern about the lengthy delay in releasing results, with some semester results taking up to a year to be published. This delay has had a negative impact on students’ academic performance.
“We have many reasons to protest. Recently, the school said they are not getting funding from the state government and they need to generate funds internally, which is why they increased the acceptance fee from N35,000 to N50,500,” said Adelola.
“Apart from the fee hike, the delay in releasing our results is affecting students. For instance, those who graduated last session are yet to be mobilised for service. I am in HND 2 second semester, and I am yet to see the result of the exams I did in HND 1 second semester.
“This is affecting students because they do not know their academic standing and how well to prepare for the next exams.”
According to him, the student body’s efforts to engage in dialogue with the polytechnic’s Rector, Adeoye Odedeji, were unsuccessful due to his unavailability. He demanded an immediate reversal of the fee hike and the urgent release of outstanding results.
“We requested to meet the Rector through the DSA, but we were told that he is not available. They gave us another appointment again, which they did not honour. Last Monday, when the non-academic staff decided to protest, they asked us to meet again, but it also failed.
“We are demanding immediate reversal of the acceptance fee back to the status quo and urgent release of outstanding results,” he concluded.
Another student, Olamide Ojelade, expressed concern that if the acceptance fee hike was tolerated, it could lead to an increase in school fees in the future.
Ojelade stated, “The acceptance used to be N25,500 before it was increased to N35,000, and now it has been increased to N50,500. Before they increase school fees again, that is why we are protesting.”
The institution’s Public Relations Officer, Yemi Ajibola, claimed that the students did not officially communicate their grievances to the school administration, making it challenging to address their concerns.
Ajibola stated, “The management is not aware of their grievances because they did not inform us of any reason why they are protesting. The management needs to be informed of what their grievances are for it to be able to sit and deliberate on them. If they channel their grievances appropriately, it will be attended to.”