Nigerian University, UI Students Reject Extension Of Payment Deadline by Three Weeks, Threaten To Shut down Institution

Students at the University of Ibadan (UI) have pledged to persist with their protest against the recent fee increase imposed by the university management.

This is even as they rejected an extension of deadline for payment by three weeks by the institution’s management.

SaharaReporters earlier noted that fees were increased from N230,000 to N412,000, which triggered reactions among the student body.

The students also vowed to lock down the school if their demands on reversal of the fees were not adhered to.

It would be recalled that the governing council said the increment was inevitable due to the present economic realities in the country.

They advised students to take loans  to pay the new tuition fee. This is even as September 5 was announced as the deadline for school fee payment.

In a statement dated August 30, 2024, signed by the union president, Aweda Bolaji, and issued through the General Secretary, Ogundijo Dolapo Japheth, the Students' Union rejected the decision made by the governing council.

"At the protest held on August 29, 2024, from 10:20 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., the students resolved that: We reject the decision made by the governing council,” it reads in part.

The students called for a “total boycott of classes till our demands are fulfilled"’

According to the statement, "The students demand a reversal of the school fees. The students demand that the school fees portal be shut down within 24 hours until our demands are met.

"The protest that began on August 29th will continue until our demands are fulfilled. The students are encouraged to make full use of social media, and the hashtags #UIFEESMUSTFALL and #SAVEUITES must be used.”

At a new Congress held by the students after interventions , which led to extension of deadline for payment from September 5 with a three weeks extension.

The decision on the extension came after the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode Omobowale alongside other principal officers held a meeting with the students’ representatives, which included the Student Union President, Aweda Bolaji, amongst other student leaders.

Students however rejected the resolution of the meeting,  vowing to keep on with their protest, stating that their demands remained reversal of the fees not extension of deadline.