Some students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta (MAPOLY), Ogun State, have blocked their school gates to protest the increase in acceptance fees paid by newly admitted students, among other grievances.
The students trooped out on Monday morning around 7:00 a.m. at the institution’s gate.
They were expressing their displeasure with the hike in acceptance fees and also to express displeasure at their withheld results.
Officials of the Nigeria Police Force were also present, providing security for the students who were sighted with placards.
The placards had inscriptions such as #No To Increment of Tuition Fee, #Rector Must Go and #Release our Result ASAP among others.
The Increase
The Students Union President in the institution, Babatunde Adelola, said they were protesting because the school management increased acceptance fees from ₦35,000 to ₦50,500.
To him, all attempt to meet with the rector has proved abortive.
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He explained that the management’s justification for the hike in the acceptance fees was that the institution was not getting adequate subsidy from the state government.
Adelola also complained about the delay in releasing their results by the school, saying it usually takes about a year for a semester result to be released.
Reasons To Protest
“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 was why they increased the acceptance fee from ₦35,000 to ₦50,500.
“Aside from the hike in fee, the delay in the release of our result 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.
The Demand
“We requested to meet the Rector through the DSA, but we were told that he was 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.
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“We are demanding immediate reversal of the acceptance fee back to status-quo and urgent release of outstanding results,” Adelola submitted.
More Fears
Another student of the institution, Olamide Ojelade, expressed fear that increasing acceptance fees can also lead to increased school fees if tolerated.
Ojelade said: “The acceptance used to be ₦25,500 before it was increased to ₦35,000, and now it has been increased to ₦50,500.
“Before they increase school fees again, that is why we are protesting”.
MAPOLY Speaks
However, in a swift reaction, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Yemi Ajibola, said the institution’s management is unaware of any of the grievances laid by the students.
He said, “The management was 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 the management to be able to sit and deliberate on it.
“If they channel their grievances appropriately, it will be attended to”.