Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state, on Tuesday, October 3, protested against a slight reduction of school fees by the management of the institution.
The students, who stormed the main campus of the institution, barricaded the entrance of the gate thereby restricting vehicular movement from moving in and out of the school.
The students were carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Fee must fall”, “Let the poor breath”, “Mama Dey sell full, papa Dey tide Okada where you wan make I see 90k”, “You Dey whine-fee must fall”, “Education sector is bleeding” amongst others.
The students’ union president, Akinremi Ojo, disclosed that the protest was to demand a 50 percent reduction of the increased fees.
He said: “Weeks before we have threatened that we would shut down activities in the school if the management refused to yield to our demands. We have declared that this protest will continue every day until our demands are met.”
The public relations officer of the school, Abiodun Olarenwaju, commended the peaceful protest of the school, urging them to prevent hoodlums from hijacking the demonstration.
He said: “I expected them to channel their grievances to the appropriate authorities like the federal ministry of education, finance even the Chief of staff to the president.
“We decided to reduce the initial chargeable fees when the leadership of their union persistently demanded re-negotiation, we considered and we held meetings with them and we told them the 50 percent you are asking for will not be realistic in the long run.”
