Following the Press Conference and Congress which held on Monday 18th, September, 2023 over the recent hike in school fees of students which led to the constitution of a 5-man committee comprising of Olugbade Majeed, Siyanbola Pelumi, Okunzie Chiagozie Kelvin, Oshodi Abdulsamad and Omisore Micheal, the leadership of the Great Ife Students’ Union met with the management of the institution on Tuesday 19th of September, 2023.
Students’ Union Holds Congress Over School Fees Hike
The meeting which held at Ajose Lecture Theatre was attended by representative from both the management and the students. Notable attendees included the Division of Student Affairs headed by Prof. Odedire, the Vice Dean, Dr. Olasunkanmi, Mr. Ilesanmi, Mr. Ashiru Opeyemi, and the Security Committee headed by Prof. Akinfala, alongside the new acting CSO, Mr. Adegboyega, Mr Fidelis, Mr Omotosho and the students team – the Students’ Union CEC, leadership of the SRC and HEC, Faculty Presidents and the President of the Association Of Campus Journalist(ACJ)
The Dean, Division of Student Affairs in his introduction said that the school fees increment is necessary for the day-to-day running of the University. In his introduction, he noted that the fee has been fixed ‘to allow the students breathe’. He also noted that the management is open to ideas from the Union and not any form of obstinacy from the students.
The Chairman of the Security Committee in his introduction gave kudos to the Students’ Union for their comportment so far since the release of the new school fees. He noted that the University met up to four times before coming to a final conclusion on the new charges and that 25% of these fees are being remitted to the Federal Government. According to him, paying the previous fee will lead to losing accreditation of a lot of courses citing Faculty of Law losing it accreditation few years ago as an example.
BREAKING: OAU Increases Students’ Fees
Furthermore, he stated that the fight for a total reversal is a good fight but the University will definitely be shutdown permanently if it is that, because it is never going to work.
In his words, ‘we know some people are so poor that even if we reduce the previous fees to N10,000, they won’t still be able to pay meanwhile some parents have been calling me asking for when the University is going to open the portal for the new charges. We did not allocate amount to any charge just arbitrarily, we made consultations to those involved in the respective sections’.
He also noted that the leadership should direct their attention to identifying the indigent students in each department and how the University can support them. Also, payment in installment per semester is in consideration by the University Senate.
Reactions From Students’ Union
The management team gave opportunity to students to give their submissions on the school fees and six students representing various students’ body were selected by the union’s President. Fasina Damilare, the Union Financial Secretary to represent the Students’ Union CEC, Olugbade Majeed to represent the Students’ School Fees Review Committee, Okunzie Kelvin representative of the Faculty of Technology President to represent the Faculty Presidents, Omisakin Seye, the Chairman of Obafemi Awolowo Hall to represent the Hall Executives Council, Akande Peter, the Deputy Speaker of the Students’ Union SRC to represent the SRC and the Union’s President, Ojo Abass to round up the whole submission.
EXCLUSIVE: OAU Student Who Bagged 121 Awards Shares Experience
The financial secretary of the Union noted that paying for moot court, pit theatre and other studios as stated in the breakdown should be ruled out owing to the fact that apart from academics activities, every events that takes place in these venues are always being paid for. He also noted that the N2,400 pegged for the Identity card is outrageous as he knows someone that can do it as low as N1,000.
Olugbade Majeed also gave his submissions concerning reducing the Students’ Union Levy, Electricity, Municipal/Utilities, Library and Examination to N600, N2,500, N2,500, N3,000 and N7,500 respectively. However, he noted that the Health (TISHIP) and Students’ Insurance Welfare Scheme pegged at N6,000 each should remain due to the past experiences of students at the University Health Centre and the clamor for better health services by the students.
From Reform To LoRdFeM: Learning From The Mistakes Of The Past Administration
Okunzie Kelvin gave his submission by stating the key responsibilities of the stakeholders of the University and that the inability of one stakeholder not discharging his/her responsibilities should not be a burden on another stakeholders. According to him, the percentage increment of the fees is outrageous especially the Library, Registration and Faculty/Departmental Charges. However, he was cut abruptly while giving further submissions.
Omisakin Seye called the attention of the Dean to the fact that accommodation levy is not included in the circulated breakdown. However, the Dean said accommodation levy is not included because it does not concern every student . According to him, ‘accommodation is not part of the requirement to graduate in OAU and even, OAU can only accommodate 20% of the students.’
Akande Peter spoke about the Laboratory charges. For Sciences, he stated that it should be reduced to N10,000 and for Health Sciences and Pharmacy, it should be reduced to N20,000. Furthermore, he stated that the amount for examination booklets be uniform for all students irrespective of their course of study.
On the issue of N100,000 ‘professional levy’ for students in the College of Health Sciences, the dean, Division Of Student Affairs affirmed that the levy is not in any way affiliated to the OAU management and that students should channel their grievances to the management of the college.
The Girl In The Midst Of Jungle: Salvation Grace Narrates Her Ordeals In Office
The union’s president, Ojo Abass expressed that the Union felt betrayed by the management due to the fact that they announced the charges without them reaching a conclusion, however the management representative said the Union did not do proper follow up as at their last meeting together stating that nobody betrayed them. He, however, proposed a 50% reduction in the new school charges after a lot of deliberations from the students and the non-feasibility of a total reversal.
Management Makes A Stance
The Dean, Division of Student Affairs said that the submissions of the six speakers will be harvested and taken back to the management for consideration and that the management is not closing the possibility of further engagement with the students on school fees
The Vice Dean, Division of Student Affairs expressed his disappointment on the back and forth in reducing some of the charges and that he expected more from the students. He affirmed that total reversal is impossible.
NEOLIFE: A Step Out Of ‘Sapa’ Or A Step Into ‘Shege’
Mr Adeagbo commended the Students’ Union and appealed to the students to not allow external forces to disrupt the process.
‘I assure you that there will be a reduction’ – Prof. Akinfala
Professor Akinfala concluded that the current management is not an arbitrary management and it is open to students deliberations. According to him, no student in the university at the moment is being trained below N500,000 per year excluding the lecturer’s salary.
‘The higher authority will be engaged and I assure you that there will be a reduction’. Though he stated that he cannot guarantee the percentage reduction but irrespective, there will be provision for indigent students. He concluded that there will be a management meeting very soon where all the submissions made at the meeting will be discussed.
Prof. Odedire ended the meeting by appreciating all the stakeholders present.
4 Comments
Pingback: JUST IN: OAU Reduces School Fees - ACJOAU
Pingback: Welcome to Great Ife, Freshmen; Now That You Are Here (II) - ACJOAU
Pingback: Welcome to Great Ife, Freshmen; Now That You Are Here (II) - ACJOAU
Pingback: I Was Dragged Like A Thief - OAU Student Assaulted By Lecturer Narrates, Management Reacts - ACJOAU