By: Feranmi Okuku
The students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba (AAUA), have shown displeasure over the hike in tuition fee and the postponement of the meeting with the State Government on two different occasions.
Recall that AAUA tuition fee was increased by over 200% in 2018 by the governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN. The increment led to a three-days protest in Akure, the state capital.
ECHO also recalled that the students of AAUA embarked on another protest on April 24,2019 to speak against the policy of 'No Payment No Examination' by the management. The protest led to the declaration of a three weeks break which has now been extended till further notice by the authority of the institution.
ECHO gathered that the Students Union body of the institution took the matter to demand reduction in their tuition fee. The action was also complimented by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) both Ondo Axis led by Comrade Adebowale Adewumi Rugged and National led by Comrade Bamidele Danielson.
The students took to the streets again to contest the decision of the state governor not to reduce the tuition fee.
It was a combined forces merging with the Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa who are facing similar problem.
It was a three-days protest which was put to a stop on 23rd May, 2019.
ECHO monitored that the protest shutdown the State capital, Akure and slow down economic activities.
According to the NANS Ondo Chairman, Comrade Adewumi, the protest was stopped because the State government has yielded to listen to the students plight.
While meeting with the Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, a meeting was fixed to consist of managements of the two institutions as well as the governing council.
This resuscitated the hopes of Nigerian students that their grievances has been heard and the government was ready to take actions on their behalf.
Their hopes were however dampened when the supposed meeting was postponed twice in a week. The first one was to hold May 27 while the second one was to hold May 28.
However, according to the words of the Special Adviser on Youths and Education, Comrade Banji Adewumi quoted in a release by the AAUA union; the postponement was due to 'logsistics reasons.
ECHO learnt that the second meeting was held for few minutes with Deputy Governor but nothing concrete was discussed because of the Governor and other stakeholders were not on seat.
The meeting was adjourned till June 6.
Meanwhile, the attitude of the Government have been condemned by students and those who spoke with ECHO showed their displeasure.
Ajiboye Stephen, a 400 level student of the institution and President, National Association of Mass Communication Students (NAMACOS) has expressed at the manner in which the state government was frustrating the students.
According to him, "the postponement of the meeting is a ploy by the state government to frustrate student and make them back off from the call for a reduction in the tuition fee. It is surprising that the same state government that called for a roundtable discussion with the Students’ Union leaders and other bodies concerning the tuition fee saga have had to postpone the meeting twice without giving any reasonable excuse. This simply means the state government is not ready to hear the cries of the Nigerian students. We will not be surprised if nothing tangible is achieved at the end of this drama".
200 level student of English Education, Oluwafemi Stephen stated that he expected the postponement of meetings and he was not surprised at all.
"The government has had a tyrannical outlook right from time. I guessed the government is just trying to show who is the boss of who".
Stephen also added that he is not expecting anything positive from the meeting.
Deokin Peter, a 400 level student of the institution and President, Faculty of Arts Students Association, the postponement of meeting is a method used by the government to frustrate Nigerian students and the course that is being fought for.
Deokin who studies History and International Studies, however stated that the protest was not done at the right time.
He said '‘it would have been better if it was done before the commencement of the session or we pend it till the time when the world would need us and need our votes. The protest is justifiable, but there are times and seasons for everything. The student populace is also suffering the burnt with the delay in academic calendar. If we had actually fought for our right in the supposed time, it would have yielded us our request by now."
"But let’s wait and see the outcome of the meeting to be held on the 6th of June".
He noted that the Students’ Union is up to something good, but fighting someone of such calibre requires God’s help.
In anothee interview, Folashade Adesuyi, a 100 level student of the department of Criminology and Security Studies commented saying the government is at a vantage point with the power it has.
In her words, "the power he has cannot close our mouths or stop us from protesting. The Students’ Union will not give up until something is done."
Likewise, the President of the Law Students Society, AAUA, Ayodeji Aimasiko stated that the leadership of the Union is aware that the academic calendar is being delayed.
He went further by commending the Union for the relentless effort they have displayed in fighting for the cause of the students.
Aimasiko also added that he believes something would be done before the union retreat.
The Students’ Union President, Comrade Samuel Adesomoju affirmed that the meeting was postponed to Thursday, 6th June, 2019.
In a statement, he said,The Deputy Governor acknowledged the fact that Mr. Governor briefed him of the said meeting with us but will love to have a full house’.
He assured that the meeting is going to hold, he however added that if there was going to be any die minute change it will be communicated to the union beforehand.
He maintained that the survival of the Nigerian students shall be a major priority.
FERANMI OKUKU is the Editor of ECHO MEDIA AAUA. SHE IS A STUDENT OF MASS COMMUNICATION.
