According to a report by Premium Times, the students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) have shut down the institution’s main campus in Ogbomoso and also its medical school in Osogbo over an increment in their tuition fees.

It had been earlier reported how the institution at its 133rd governing council meeting which held on Thursday, July 5 decided that the hike will take effect from the 2018 / 2019 academic session.



The present 100 level students paid N120,000 for indigenes of Oyo and Ogun states and N150,000 for non-indigenes as part of the resolution of the institution after the university strike that lasted for months.

However, on Monday, the institution implemented its decision in a mail sent to all students. It said indigenes are now to pay N200,000 while non-indigenes are to pay N250,000 for the new session which will commence on October 29.

The new fees are against the initial N63,500 for indigenes and N72,500 for non-indigenes who are returning students.



The spokesman of the university, Lekan Fadeyi, has since then refused to answer calls and text messages sent to his line on this development.

However, as early as 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Premium Times gathered that the students locked the institution’s campus gates in Osogbo and Ogbomoso and are now protesting with the hashtag, #OccupyLautech.

The closure has disrupted the flow of vehicles and also grounded day to day activities in the school.

The Students’ Union President, Abiodun Oluwaseun, who spoke with Premium Times in a telephone interview threatened that they will not vacate the gate unless the school reverses its decision.

“We have shut down main road in front of college of health sciences and also the school main gate. No retreat, no surrender. We have to fight this and make sure that irregularities does not reign,” he said.

Another student leader, Fawole Isreal, who is coordinating the protest in Osogbo told our correspondent that the authorities have erred by increasing the fees.



“During the preparation for Osun State election, the Chancellor of the varsity, Tinubu was boasting how only him is richer than Osun State.

The same Tinubu has left LAUTECH to ruins by keeping mum and not showing remorse as a father on the situation of things. That is being irresponsible.”

Other students who reacted to the development also tagged the implementation of the decision by the university management as irresponsible.



“We can’t afford the money (fees). When workers are still fighting for minimum wage, the institution came up with hike,” a student, Aarinola Adegbite, said.

Another student, Kazeem Alli, told Premium Times that the university “is calling for another strike” by the increase.

When will this stop?

I told mynd44 lalasticlala and OAM4J that Buhari means no Good for this country but they refused to believe.

When they want to implement a harsh policy on struggling Citizens, it won't take more than a week but common minimum wage increment,they can't despite the fact that presidents allowance keep growing every year like grass

I'm not surprised this is happening. I don't blame the university staff neither do i blame the students. However, hike in fees may be the pragmatic solution to Lautech's challenges. This is a lesson to admission seekers, if your parents are of a modest background, just do well and apply to Federal universities.
Codetemplar

Donald95:
I told mynd44 lalasticlala and OAM4J that Buhari means no Good for this country but they refused to believe.

When they want to implement a harsh policy on struggling Citizens, it won't take more than a week but common minimum wage increment,they can't despite the fact that presidents allowance keep growing every year like grass

The presidency mean well in respect to minimum wage.The federal government may pay but many states can't pay.

HigherEd:
I'm not surprised this is happening. I don't blame the university staff neither do i blame the students. However, hike in fees may be the pragmatic solution to Lautech's challenges. This is a lesson to admission seekers, if your parents are of a modest background, just do well and apply to Federal universities.
Codetemplar

You are right. State universities shouldn't exist in the first place because many states can't sustain it.Most Federal universities are increasing their fees from time and with time it might be beyond the reach of the common man.

Such a shame two states can't run a university smoothly. The fact these governors are just gambling and playing games with the future of thousands of students. Why should they even care? Their kids are all abroad getting a smooth and world education. Until there is a ban on public office children studying abroad, the education section is going remain in shambles.

The thing about lautech here is same thing affecting our whole educational system. under- funding, leakages or wastage of available funds and admission racketeering to unmotivated student.
Even if you increase the fee, what happens to the corruption within the school that eats up a good chunk of the fee?

asuustrike1:

You are right. State universities shouldn't exist in the first place because many states can't sustain it.Most Federal universities are increasing their fees from time and with time it might be beyond the reach of the common man.

I disagree. State uni should exist but limit their operation to let's say biological science, Engineering, Arts, or Business or Even IT or Artisan education.
The fact that that Lautech a state uni owned by two states and already limited in operation to technology and sciences isnt running smoothly shows there is fire on the mountain.

Some factors that eats up university funding are
1. Student population.
2. Research
3. Corruption
4. Operation scale.

These can be varied to adjust required funding level before asking students to pay more. The students themselves are also guilty in a sense. how many of them can defend their knowledge acquired? If the plan of a dull student is to grad then start hustling ( runs or G ) for money, why should government be sponsoring such a students?

asuustrike1:

The presidency mean well in respect to minimum wage.The federal government may pay but many states can't pay.

In advanced nations, minimum wage level hardly features in the factor determining university fee of funding level. People save for college fee of their ward right from birth in some advanced nation like USA, Canada.
It is only in Africa people assume govt impregnated their mother and therefore govt must train and employ them. if govt is training you and the society needs your skill then it is only normal govt try to employ as many of as possible. There is no room for employment any longer. Look at the minimum wage debacle alone. Money don't grow on trees.

HigherEd:
I'm not surprised this is happening. I don't blame the university staff neither do i blame the students. However, hike in fees may be the pragmatic solution to Lautech's challenges. This is a lesson to admission seekers, if your parents are of a modest background, just do well and apply to Federal universities.

Codetemplar

The challenge with the bold is that people prefer to work smart and not work hard like you recommended. They do this by bribing their way into the school and when this is the case they tend to be the unmotivated type whom yahoo, G and runs often appeal to after grad.

CodeTemplar:
I disagree. State uni should exist but limit their operation to let's say biological science, Engineering, Arts, or Business or Even IT or Artisan education.
The fact that that Lautech a state uni owned by two states and already limited in operation to technology and sciences isnt running smoothly shows there is fire on the mountain.

Some factors that eats up university funding are
1. Student population.
2. Research
3. Corruption
4. Operation scale.

These can be varied to adjust required funding level before asking students to pay more. The students themselves are also guilty in a sense. how many of them can defend their knowledge acquired? If the plan of a dull student is to grad then start hustling ( runs or G ) for money, why should government be sponsoring such a students?

Many states do not value enough resources to cater for her need. They depend on revenue allocation from Abuja to sustain them, you don't expect such state to do well. Had it been many of them are generating revenue, they should be able to sustain their higher institutions. You pointed out that corruption, student population, research and operation scale are eating up funding in many state universities but you forgot that this phenomenon is also found in federal universities too yet they are doing well to a large extent

asuustrike1:

Many states do not value enough resources to cater for her need. They depend on revenue allocation from Abuja to sustain them, you don't expect such state to do well. Had it been many of them are generating revenue, they should be able to sustain their higher institutions. You pointed out that corruption, student population, research and operation scale are eating up funding in many state universities but you forgot that this phenomenon is also found in federal universities too yet they are doing well to a large extent

Federal unis have relatively better funding because they get funds from the centre. The states can't equally use lack of Abuja funds as excuse because Abuja isn't there to give them money endlessly.

CodeTemplar:
Federal unis have relatively better funding because they get funds from the centre. The states can't equally use lack of Abuja funds as excuse because Abuja isn't there to give them money endlessly.

That is the more reason state schools should be scrapped

asuustrike1:

That is the more reason state schools should be scrapped

You don't scrap an entity like that. Its scope of operations can be downgraded to help give the funds being injected into it better use.

Even the alleged better funded FG schools are demanding for 3-4 times their current allocation.
So maybe the FG schools too should be scrapped?

[quote author=CodeTemplar post=72163426]

You don't scrap an entity like that. Its scope of operations can be downgraded to help give the funds being injected into it better use.

They should be sold. Many states universities are not viable

Even the alleged better funded FG schools are demanding for 3-4 times their current allocation.
So maybe the FG schools too should be scrapped?

Some of them should be scrapped or converted to mono universities.

asuustrike1:


Some of them should be scrapped or converted to mono universities.

Better.

[quote author=asuustrike1 post=72163591][/quote]selling state universities is not the best way to go....State Government should be responsible..........

akinbode1:
selling state universities is not the best way to go....State Government should be responsible..........

It is the best. States should stick to providing primary and secondary schools. Many states don't have enough revenue