The management of the Federal University of Technology Akure in Ondo State has ordered an indefinite suspension of student resumption for the 2023/2024 academic session.
Mr Adegbenro Adebanjo, the institution’s Director of Corporate Communication, released this statement on Monday in Akure, the state capital.
According to Adebanjo, the management has also asked all students who are currently on campus or in university hostels to depart within 24 hours.
He stated that the university’s administration requested that all returning students’ registration and fee payments for the academic session, which was slated to begin on Monday, be placed on hold.
He said that, contrary to popular belief, the institution is yet to open the portal for returning students for the new session.
Earlier, students at the institution held a peaceful protest, stating that the university’s administration had raised tuition despite the country’s economic downturn.
Mr. Oluwasoromidayo Olayemi, President of the FUTA Student Union Government, addressed the protesting students and begged the school’s management to reinstate the previous school fees.
According to Olayemi, the most recent tuition rate increase occurred less than a year ago.
He said that the administration raised the school fees to more than N200,000 for new students, while returning students who paid N35,000 would now pay at least N130,000, depending on the academic course.
He stated that the peaceful demonstration would continue until the fees were returned.
However, the institution’s representative refuted the purported increase in school fees by university management, claiming that tuition was free.
According to the institution’s spokesperson:
“On the proposed new fees and charges, they are mainly for students-related services which are sourced from the economy.
“And the costs of such goods and services provided by the university for the students will certainly be impacted by costs of goods and services in the economy.
“To ensure smooth running of the university, certain consumables and payments for municipal services such as electricity, water, hostel maintenance and cleaning and sundry other services are necessary.
“And the costs of providing the services have shot up and the new charges are in response to this,” he said.
“Other costs that were adjusted as a result of economic reality include medical examination for all new students, biometric identity cards and Tertiary Institutions’ Students Health Insurance Programme, administered by NHIS for students and final yearbook.
“The management reiterates that tuition remains free for all students and that it has inbuilt mechanism within the system to look into and build consensus on matters affecting students including charges and fees.
“And that mechanism is working on this matter and consensus will be achieved.”
cc: Punch Ng
