Students storm Oyo gov’s office over hike in fees
By Olalekan Adetayo
Wednesday, 1 Jun 2011
 

Students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, on Tuesday stormed the Governor’s Office, Agodi, Ibadan to protest the hike in their school fees by the immediate past administration in the state.

The students, in their hundreds, attempted to force their ways into the premises, compelling security operatives to quickly shut the main gate leading into the secretariat.

Their action caused a serious traffic gridlock on the major road in front of the secretariat and other adjoining roads.

It took the intervention of armed policemen drafted to the scene, who fired some canisters of teargas to disperse the students.

One of the protesting students, who did not want his name in print, had earlier told journalists that their intention was to seek the governor’s intervention in reducing their tuition fees.

He said the last administration had raised the tuition fee of HND II students to about N100,000 while HND I students were asked to pay N84,000, adding that the accommodation fee was put at N17, 500 despite the fact that the school rarely had electricity.

He said, “There are no facilities in the hostels, yet the management is forcing us to pay. This is unacceptable to us. We have paid 60 per cent of the fees and they are compelling us to balance up within a week.

“We cannot agree with this. Governor Ajimobi had before his inauguration promised to reduce the fees by 50 per cent. We have paid even more than half of the fees and so we are calling on the governor to address the situation.”

In reaction, authorities of the polytechnic ordered its immediate closure.

adefemi1:

Students storm Oyo gov’s office over hike in fees
By Olalekan Adetayo
Wednesday, 1 Jun 2011



Students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, on Tuesday stormed the Governor’s Office, Agodi, Ibadan to protest the hike in their school fees by the immediate past administration in the state.

The students, in their hundreds, attempted to force their ways into the premises, compelling security operatives to quickly shut the main gate leading into the secretariat.

Their action caused a serious traffic gridlock on the major road in front of the secretariat and other adjoining roads.

It took the intervention of armed policemen drafted to the scene, who fired some canisters of teargas to disperse the students.

Unconfirmed report had it that about four of the protesting students were arrested. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adisa Bolanta, told our correspondent on the telephone at about 3pm that he had not been briefed on any arrest.

The students’ action came at a time the newly-inaugurated Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, was attending an inter-faith prayer session at the Governor’s Office as part of activities for his inauguration.

At 12 noon, the traffic situation on the Bodija-Secretariat Road was still hectic.

About five police patrol vans were stationed in front of the secretariat while stern-looking, armed policemen and some officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were stationed under the bridge at the entrance of the secretariat.

One of the protesting students, who did not want his name in print, had earlier told journalists that their intention was to seek the governor’s intervention in reducing their tuition fees.

He said the last administration had raised the tuition fee of HND II students to about N100,000 while HND I students were asked to pay N84,000, adding that the accommodation fee was put at N17, 500 despite the fact that the school rarely had electricity.

He said, “There are no facilities in the hostels, yet the management is forcing us to pay. This is unacceptable to us. We have paid 60 per cent of the fees and they are compelling us to balance up within a week.

“We cannot agree with this. Governor Ajimobi had before his inauguration promised to reduce the fees by 50 per cent. We have paid even more than half of the fees and so we are calling on the governor to address the situation.”

In reaction, authorities of the polytechnic ordered its immediate closure.

According to a statement by the Registrar, Mr. Tosho Ayanwale, the school would remain closed down until further notice.

He attributed the closure to what he called the lawless attitude of the students, who invaded the office of the governor.

The statement read, “The management has consequently directed all the students of the institution including those in Saki and Eruwa campuses to proceed to their various homes until further notice.

Pornodude:

Nonsense! What r they protesting about? Some of those students use blackberry and iphones which cost about almost the price of the school fees so wtf? Most people dont value education these day so i believe when they pay a high price for their education, they will value it. 

jensinmi:

@ Pornodude:

Don't forget the N120,000 Brazilian weave. That is a winner nowadays.

Musiwa, :

they should convert The polytechnic Ibadan to a University. People who graduate from there, have problem abroad. Convert all Polytechnics in Yorubaland into Universities.

Anvaller:

I would advise people to always learn more about an issue before jumping to conclusions. This is how it happened
1)Akala raised their fees sometimes ago, the students protested and he (Akala) said it was inevitable. (So the students were unhappy).

2)The Academic and Non Academic staff of Polytechnic applauded Akala for raising the fee because the institution would earn more and so there long overdue increase in salary can be implemented and there would be funds to do other things. (So the staffs were happy)

That was the standing of things till Ajimobi came in

3) Ajimobi promised the students that he will announce a reduction of their tuition fee by 50% during his inauguration if he was voted in and so (Poly Student worked en masse for the election of Ajimobi). He said Akala
had no reason to raise their fees in the 1st place that he was just a thief who was looking for an avenue to steal more money. (So the student became happy again)

4) The staff of Ibadan poly out of fear that Ajimobi might make good his promise ordered the student to pay a total amount of their tuition and gave them a one week ultimatum or else those who did not pay would cease to be bonafide students forthwith.
The student were not baffled with the school's managements ultimatum because they thought it would be of no effect since Ajimobi would announce a reduction at his inauguration.

5) At the inauguration against his promise, Ajimobi did not announce a reduction and the ultimatum was running, therefore they thought that there was a problem that needs urgent interference, hence they headed to Ajimobi for a rescue, more so, he was the one who promised them.

6) The population of the protesting students was overwhelming and of course the overzealous security personnels who have just been detailed to protect a new governor would want to due their jobs very well. As a result, they beat the guys and stripped the ladies unclothed.

Conclusion: The students might not be totally right but I think that they should not be called idiots and morons because their action was consequent upon a development that was building up.
Lastly, lets ask ourselves, why hasn't Ajimobi made any comment to this development?
He understands the reason why the student did what they did more than ordinary people who doesnt know what has transpired does, so he needs sometime to really think what next he would say to these students.

tayo_ast:

they were daft to say d least.

It was the governor's first day in office for goodness' sake!

Instead of protesting. they should av paid him a visit and remind him of his promise before election.

No the school has been shut indefinitely. . .smh

tjskii:

that still doesn't explain their behavior,for God's sake they're supposed to be learned human beings, why would you go on a rampage on the very first day of the

governor's tenure,is he a magician? Will he just say abracadabra and their fees would be reduced. They should have given him time, at least a month,before

determining that there might be a problem. Is it not during Akala's regime that the money was increased,why didn't they go on rampage then, i just feel the whole

thing was politically motivated. i live here in ibadan and i know what is going on, just  two days to may29, Akala suddenly decided to give the motor parks back to Tokyo, and now we have clashes and people losing their lives daily,just because the road transport people refuse to have Tokyo as their chairman. Then the poly

students suddenly take it in to their heads to rampage,its very glaring,some people are trying to create trouble and confusion in oyo state