UI Students send SOS to Tinubu over fee hike

Students of the University of Ibadan, on Thursday, made a passionate plea to the President, Bola Tinubu over the recent increase in their school fees.
The students, operating under the banner of Helpless and Concerned Students, in an open letter to the president, stressed that the proposed increase in undergraduate school fees has forced many students to seek financial help online.
They noted that with the current economic climate in the country, they can’t put up the new fees.
The students, in a statement signed on their behalf by Solomon Emiola, emphasized that the fee increase puts their academic aspirations and future at risk.
They appealed to President Tinubu to intervene and rescue them from what they described as a dire situation.
The students in the letter also sent to key government officials, including the Minister for Education and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), questioned the fee hike, given that the federal government already covers staff salaries and suggested that existing funding from TETFUND and donor agencies should suffice for infrastructure development and capacity building.
Going further, they queried the need for increased fees despite the university’s substantial revenue streams from privatized hostels and other sources, urging for a reconsideration of the proposed hike to safeguard their educational pursuits.
Emiola said, “We, the distressed students and stakeholders of the University of Ibadan, humbly appeal to your compassionate consideration regarding the crippling and unwarranted increments in undergraduate school fees.
“The proposed increment has cast a dark shadow on our academic pursuits, threatening our dreams. We plead with you to intervene and rescue us from this predicament.”
The students accused the school management of a lack of transparency and accountability.
They expressed concern about the announcement of the increment without the governing council’s approval.
He added “Mr. President, amidst inflation and unfulfilled promises of minimum wage, our parents struggle. Education, a fundamental right, should not be commercialized.
“We implore you to reverse the unwarranted increment, investigate UI’s financial management, and ensure transparency and accountability.”