Students Kick As OAU Hikes Fees

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, have announced increments in the fees that students of the institution would hencforth pay.

A release by the public relations officer of the university, Abiodun Olarewaju, yesterday, said for those in the faculties of arts, law and humanities, the newly admitted students will pay N151,200 while returning students of the same faculties that paid about N23,000 before this development, would now pay N89,200.

The management said, “For those in the faculties of technology and science, new students would pay N163,200 and returning students N101,200.

“In addition, new students of the faculties in the College of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Pharmacy are to pay N190,200 (new students) and N128 200 (returning students) respectively.”

The returning students of the College of Health Sciences, before this development, paid N31,000.

Olarewaju said, “The decision was taken by the Senate of the university at its emergency meeting on Tuesday, 12th September, 2023.”

Meanwhile, the leadership of the students’ union of the institution has condemned the increments and declared that the payment regime would not stand.

A statement by the president of the Great Ife Students Union, Abbas Ojo, the secretary-general, Akinboni Opeyemi and the public relations officer, Omisore Elijah, expressed displeasure and said they were not involved in how the new fees came about.

They said, “Our attention has been drawn to a proposed school charge circulating. We are stating our displeasure with the management of Obafemi Awolowo University, as the federal government has debunked involvement in any form of increment in tuition fees.”