The Great Ife Students’ Union on Monday, 15th December, issued a release over unauthorised fee increases at BVERS Hostel and declared a state of emergency in all maintenance-based hostels.
The action was necessitated due to the complaints from students, who said the hostel management demanded additional payments without prior consultation or approval. The Union, in the statement issued by the Public Relations Officer, Oluwosile Joseph Oreoluwa, and signed by the Secretary General Habeeb Oke ISA, and the President, Adelani David, described this as a gross disrespect and disregard of previous agreements.
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The statement partly reads, ‘This comes after a meeting with the hostel authorities and the Division of Students’ Affairs where it was agreed that no new fees be introduced until proper renovation is done and if at all price is to be reviewed, it will be next session and all relevant bodies, including the Students’ Union, are to be carried along.’
Despite this agreement, BVERS management continued to demand extra payments from students. In response, the Union directed students to pay only the previously agreed fees, warning that any additional payments would be at their own risk. The Union also announced inspections of all hostels and called for urgent meetings with hostel owners and the Division of Students’ Affairs, stating that all decisions made at the meeting would be binding on all parties.
If you recall, ACJOAU earlier reported that students expressed shock and frustration over the sudden rent hikes, describing them as excessive and unjustified given the poor state of the facilities. Many residents criticised the management for a lack of communication and inadequate maintenance, while the Union demanded a full reversal of the increases within 48 hours and instructed students not to make any payments until the matter was resolved.
The release further reads, ‘The Union, after this gross disrespect and disregard, hereby declare a state of emergency in all Maintenance-based hostels, and we will be conducting inspections of all hostels to ensure compliance.’ The Students’ Union is therefore calling for an urgent meeting with the hostel owners and the Division of Student Affairs (DSA) to make decisions that will be binding on all parties involved.
The Students’ Union concluded its release by emphasising that it would not tolerate any form of extortion or unjustified charges and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting students’ rights.