NANS Kicks Against ‘Marginal’ Fee Increment In Ekiti Varsity

By Ayodele Oni

The Management of Ekiti State University, (EKSU) Ado Ekiti, has described as ‘marginal’ the recent increase in fees by 50 percent payable by students.

But the increase has generated mixed reactions from stakeholders, especially the leadership of National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS).

A statement by Deputy Registrar in charge of information, Bode Olofinmuagun, urged stakeholders, particularly students to be calm as a “result of the issues surrounding the marginal adjustment in the fees payable by the prospective students of the university in the 2024/2025 academic session.

“The Governing Council of the university, after carefully considering the economic realities of the country viz a viz the need to provide quality service took the decision to marginally increase the fees payable by the prospective students of the university with effect from the 2024/2025 academic session.

“This decision was also taken in order to complement the monthly government subvention to the University, which had  been reviewed upward by the Ekiti State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, who is also the Visitor to the university.

“For the purpose of clarity, operational costs in the university have increased occasioned by the increase in prices of goods and services by about 200% due to  high inflation. Yet, the Governing Council of the university only adjusted the fees payable by freshers only by 50%.

“It is equally important to state that there is the dire need for the university to keep the system running in terms of the provision of quality as well as state of the art facilities to ensure that the university is relevant in the comity of universities across the globe.

“The recent ranking of the University as the best state university and the 12th best out of over 200 universities in the country is a testament to this.

“It is undeniable that upward adjustment in the fees payable by students cut across all universities in Nigeria (Federal, State and Private). Ekiti State University, Ado – Ekiti is, therefore, not an exception.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the marginal increase affects only freshers, while the fees payable by stalites are not in any way affected. Also, the acceptance fees to be paid by freshers are not affected even when many other Universities increased their acceptance fees.

“It is a verifiable fact that EKSU fees are very affordable compared with most state Universities and many Federal universities, not to talk of fees being charged per term by many private secondary schools across the country.

In its reaction, NANS in a statement signed by Owolewa Taiwo,

_Coordinator, NANS Southwest Zone D,

declared that “We make bold to say that the 50% increment in school fees isn’t a marginal adjustment, it is substantial increment.

“The use of marginal adjustment is nothing but a mere manipulation of our collective intelligence. How do you explain 50% increment as marginal increment?

“Also the University cited ‘Economic Reality’ as the reason for the hike in fees, we therefore want to ask if such economic realities doesn’t affect the students and their parents?

“We also seek to know whether education in the state has now gone 100% commercialized and no longer a social service provided by the state and complimented by the people?

“We also want to ask with the current salary structures, how many Eksu staff except the management staff can afford to send their wards to study Medicine, Law or Engineering courses at EKSU at the moment if the new fees regime announced stands?

“We also want to ask why the University can’t explore other areas of IGR other than school fees to compliment government subventions.

“Areas such as agriculture and its value chain, certificates courses, special schools for professional certifications, reserach and consultancy services etc.

“If the university can’t explore its diverse Human Resources Capacity and Ingenuity in improving IGR other than the cheap way out of increasing school fees, isn’t that an indictment on the lack of ideas of the management, council and the universality of the institution?

“We therefore stand by our earlier press statement that the hike should be reviewed downward and our consultative meeting agreement with the management prior to the increment be honoured. Failure to do this will trigger our proposed plan to ensure this hike in fees does not stand.”