TUITION FEE SAGA: AAUASU ISSUE 7-DAYS ULTIMATUM TO GOVERNMENT

By: Adesola Ikulajolu

As the tension over the lateness in resumption gets thicken, Ondo State owned Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, through its Students' Union has issued a Seven days ultimatum to the government to address the issue.

This was made known in a statement released by the Union under the leadership of Comrade Ijanusi Olawale pka 'Optimum', saying that the government has shown no concern over the issue.

Recall that the visitor to the institution, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN said in his speech during the last convocation ceremony that the tuition fee would be reviewed upwardly.

All speculations in the delay of the students resumption is pointed towards the proposed plan to increase the tuition fee, the union maintained.

The union in its statement noted that the students has been on break for about 80days and nothing has been said concerning resumption.

"Today makes it 80days that we have been made to sit at home since the 2016/2017 academic session ended."

"It is quite pathetic and sardonic that the government has been quite undisturbed by this disheartening predicament."

"The government has been so unperturbed by the fact that we are wallowing and wasting away at home. We have wasted a whole semester at home doing nothing."

The union also lamented the inability of the government and its appointed governing council to take quick decision on the issue.

Recall that the Governor appointed the Governong Council of Ajasin Varsity to be chaired by Dr. Tunji Abayomi, a human right activist and son of the state.

While lamenting, the union through its statement cleared that the students can no longer keep mute but must take actions to get the needed attention.

"The hope of our 500L Law students going to Law School is now hanging in the wind."
'We are made to go through all this unpalatable rigours all because of the unfortunate indecisiveness of the government."

"We have been silent enough. We will not allow the administration of the government to toy with our future. We have been pushed to the wall, and it is now highly sacrosanct, germane and imperative to take our destiny into our hands," the union said.

The union however, issued a 7-days ultimatum beginning on the from 2nd of April, 2018. The ultimatum is for the government and the council to facilitate the process for the students to resume back to school.

It says "On this note, we are strongly giving out a 7-working-days ultimatum to the government and also to the governing council of AAUA, to facilitate all necessary necessities to bring about the resumption of AAUA.This ultimatum count down shall kickstart on monday, 2nd of April 2018."

In an earlier release by the union, it stood its stand against the purported hike in fee, saying that the government should not embark on such move. It was made clear by the union that all they demanded for is 'No Increment'.

"Failure of the government and the governing council to do the needful will draw the wrath of the Nigerian students. As we will be left with no choice than to take to center stage," the union said.