UI students protest fee increase plans to boycott classes until demands are met

Students at the University of Ibadan (UI) in Oyo State have staged protests in response to the university governing council’s recent decision to raise school fees for the 2023/2024 academic session.

The fee hike, which increased from N230,000 to N412,000, has sparked significant unrest among the student body. On August 30, 2024, the Students’ Union, led by President Aweda Bolaji and General Secretary Ogundijo Dolapo Japheth, issued a statement rejecting the council’s decision.

The statement noted, “During the protest held on August 29, 2024, from 10:20 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., students resolved to reject the governing council’s decision.” The students have called for a complete boycott of classes until their demands are addressed.

The statement further demanded a reversal of the increased fees and a shutdown of the school fees portal within 24 hours until their concerns are met. The protests, which began on August 29, are set to continue until their demands are fulfilled. Students are urged to utilize social media to amplify their cause using the hashtags #UIFEESMUSTFALL and #SAVEUITES.

The Students’ Union has also pledged to mobilize resources for continued protests starting at 5:00 a.m. on Friday.

In response, a circular from the council’s secretary, G.O. Saliu, announced that the revised fee schedule for newly admitted and returning undergraduate students had been approved by the university Senate. The circular advised students to complete their registration and payment by Wednesday, September 4, 2024, to allow departments to finalize lists for the first semester exams.

The council defended the fee increase by citing the current economic conditions and encouraged students to explore Federal Government student loans and available scholarships from the university and other philanthropists to support those in financial need.