Students’ union seeks dialogue with UI management over 492% fee hike

The students’ union government (SUG) at the University of Ibadan (UI) is seeking to dialogue with the management of the institution over fee hikes.

TheCable earlier reported that new intakes at UI may now be paying up to N412,000 following a sudden hike in fees.

Samson Tobiloba, president of the UI students’ umbrella body, said the union has sought to meet with the management in pursuit of a reversal.

“We received with surprise the news of the sudden opening of the portal and increment in fees for the fresh students,” Tobiloba had said in a statement.

“The fees, according to what is reflected on the students portal, range from N133,500 to N372,500.

“This is aside from the utility and technology levies of N20,000 each. In a bid to clarify these, we reached out to the university management.

“There is a plan for the increment of fees ranging from N133,500 to N238,500. This is aside from the utility and technology levies (N40,000 in total).

“The union condemns this increment in strong terms and requests that this proposed increment be reverted to the status quo.

“We are equally requesting a meeting with the university management towards resolving this issue.”

Tobiloba said the union, in engaging with the university’s management, learned of a plan to similarly raise the fees payable by returning students.

“The exact amount could not be confirmed. We note with concern that this increment represents about 450%  -750%,” he added.

“This is coming at a period when several students are finding it hard to cope with the current fee regime and increased cost of living.”

In 2023, several federal universities raised their fees by over 100 percent, citing a rising cost of living that impacted operational expenditure.

Among the federal universities that upped their rate by about 800 percent, are the University of Lagos (UNILAG); the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID); Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), and the University of Nigeria (UNN) Nsukka.

The hikes resulted in a nationwide protest across campuses, with students forcing university management into negotiating a drop.