Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
The students of Ekiti State University (EKSU) have been protesting against the late registration fee allegedly imposed on them by the school authorities.
The students shut down University Road in Ado Ekiti for more than three hours in protest of what they described as extortion by the school management.
When THISDAY visited the scene of the protest, the visibly angry students were seen caring placards bearing different inscriptions such as: ‘Late registration should be for a student whose school fees is 20k, 30k not for a student whose school is 200k’, among others. The school gate was shut down preventing both lecturers and students gaining entrance into the school premises.
Specifically, the students in their hundreds armed with various placards says they are opposing the idea of N5,000 payment for late registration, as they decried the huge amount required for school fee, internet services, and other payments they said they were compelled to pay.
Findings by THISDAY have it that the students were totally against the N5,000 late registration fee allegedly imposed on them as they described it as “unbearable in face of a hike in their school
fees.”
This protest came just a week to their examinations.
The Students Union Government (SUG) PRO, Dotun Ogunsanya, who spoke with THISDAY, said: “It is worrisome that they do not enjoy any facility in the institution, as there has been power outage both within and outside the university premises for more than five years.”
Several students, who also spoke with THISDAY, listed their grievances to include unconfirmed transaction, double payments, and unconducive learning environment, as well as alleged harassment and intimidation among others.
While reacting, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Professor Ayodele Babatope, said the genesis of this crisis was the refusal of the students to comply with the directive of the institution to register early for academic activities, which they were penalised for.
Professor Ayodele disclosed further that the N10,000 penalty was reduced to N5000 after the students’ initial outcry, adding that other issues being raised by the students are inconsequential and manipulative.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of the school, Professor Edward Olanipekun, on behalf of the university Senate, has approved the suspension of academic activities on campus for two weeks with effect from April 11, 2023.
A statement signed by Head, Directorate of Information and Corporate Affairs, Bode Olofimuagun, and made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti, said: “Arising from the above, all students of the university are ordered to vacate the campus premises immediately and should not be seen within the campus premises for the next two weeks.”
