The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has accused the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, Dr Lateef Olatunji, of bringing untoward hardship upon the students of the institution by increasing tuition and introducing some ‘illegal’ fees.
According to NANS, the tuition used to be N15,000 for returning students and N18,000 for freshers.
It, however, said the Rector, within a space of two years and few months, had increased the school fee on two occasions; saying the fee is now N33,150.
The students’ body also alleged that Dr Olatunji had imposed some needless fees on the students; adding that the Dean of Students Affairs, “Dr Gbenga Aleminu is the key player in the ordeals facing Offa poly students.”
According to NANS, the needless fees include; “Game and sports fee – N3,000, T-ship fee – N2,000, Medical exam – N1,000, Medical service – N1,000, EDSVC – N2,500, Prospectus – N1,000, Internet connectivity – N3,000.”
In a statement signed by NANS National Public Relations Officer, Azeez Adeyemi, and made available to DAILY POST in Abeokuta, Wednesday, the students leaders demanded the removal of the polytechnic’s Director of Students Affairs, Dr Aleminu, allegedly for peace to reign.
Adeyemi also called for the scrapping of the purported needless fees; failure of which he said would attract a well coordinated protest that would shut down the institution.
The statement reads: “The national body of the apex students’ body has earlier received complaint letters from students of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa over incessant increment in their tuition fee by the current administration led by Dr Lateef Olatunji.
We decided to be calm as we expected that their complaints would be attended to, since we learnt that the management knew all that is not well with the school hence, we expected a fatherly approach.
As a federal school, we learnt that the tuition fee was put at N15,000 for staylites and N18,000 for freshers, but when the Rector assumed office, within the space of two years and few months he had increased the students tuition fees on two occasions and presently pegged it at N33,150.
“Our students have also complained of paying some needless fees which shouldn’t be pressed against students in any sane clime.
“The fee include; Game and sports fee – N3,000, T-ship fee – N2,000, Medical exam – N1,000, Medical service – 1,000, EDSVC – N2,500, Prospectus – N1,000, Internet connectivity – N3,000 to mention but few.
“We have however gathered that the Dean of Students Affairs, Dr Gbenga Aleminu, is the key player in the ordeals facing our students.
“We hereby demand that the Director of Students Affairs, Dr Gbenga Aleminu be removed immediately for peace to reign.
“We also demand that the needless fees such as the ones mentioned above be scrapped.
“Failure of the school management to adhere to our demand will attract a well coordinated protest in the school as well as shutting down of the institution.”
Efforts to speak with the polytechnic’s Director of Information, Public Relations and Protocol, Mr Olayinka Iroye, were unsuccessful as he did not answer calls to his phone, neither did he reply a message sent to him hours before filing this report.
