By Ayomide Ogunsakin
The management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has reviewed the school fees payable by the students of the university.
However, the Great Ife Students’ Union has kicked against this reduction, maintaining that only a 50 per cent reduction would be acceptable for students of the University.
A statement released by the Public Relations Officer of the University, Abiodun Olanrewaju on Monday, 25th September, revealed that the management has reduced the fees after a meeting held with the students.
According to Olanrewaju, the Students’ Union leaders were adamant, insisting that the fees should be reduced by 50%.
However, he stated that the university management made it clear that the new charges were the minimum the university would require to run efficiently.
The reduced fees as announced by Vice Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, for the various faculties in the University are as follows:
Faculties of Arts, Law and Humanities:
Reduced from the initial fees of ₦89,200 to ₦76,000 for returning students, and from #151,200 to #131,000 for new students.
Faculties of Science and Technology:
Reduced from ₦101,200 to ₦86,000 for returning students, and from ₦163,200 to ₦141,000 for new students in the Faculties.
Faculty of Pharmacy and College of Health Sciences: Reduced from ₦128,200 to ₦109,000 for returning students, and from ₦190,000 to ₦164,000 for new students in this category.
The Statement included that the University management has agreed that the payment can be in two equal installments.
Responding to the school Management’s new position on the fees to be paid, the Great Ife Students’ Union also issued a press release today, 26th September.
The Union’s statement read as follows:
“Our attention has been drawn to the viral Press Release made by the PRO of the university management concerning negotiations between us, the leadership of the Students’ Union, and the Management over the proposed increment in the school fees in the coming session. It is imperative that we provide clarification on the implication of an agreement between the leadership of the Union and the Management, as the basis of any successful negotiation and advancement of a society is transparency.
Firstly, we commend the Management for their willingness to make concessions and reductions in the fees. However, the leadership of the union finds it necessary to state that no agreement was made with the school management as regards the increment of school fees for the following reasons:
1. The leadership of the union recognises the supremacy of congressional resolutions and on this basis, has not been authorized to agree to any other figure besides the 50% increase as agreed at the congress.
2. The Leadership of the union will meet with the relevant committee set up by the congress and will also table the discussions between us and the management before the congress for transparent and open deliberation by students.”
The statement concluded with an urge for students of the University to “suspend any payment activities until a final and favourable agreement has been made.”
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