University Of Ibadan security team detains activist, students for protesting increase in tuition fees

Security operatives at the University of Ibadan have arrested three persons including an activist while protesting against an increase in school fees at the school.

Aduwo Ayodele and Nice Linus were named as the students who were arrested. Femi Adeyeye, an activist, was also taken into custody.

The arrest on Monday morning comes in the wake of protests against the school’s recent increase in tuition fees.

At the time the report was filed, the activist and students were being held in the school’s security post.

Efforts made to reach the school management for comments failed.

In April, the UI Students’ Union Executive Council, led by Samuel Samson Tobiloba, had condemned the hike in tuition by 750 per cent for new students.

The Council demanded that the increment should immediately be reverted to the status quo and requested a meeting with the university management towards resolving this issue.

The students’ union leadership made its position known following the reflection of the recent increment on the students’ portal.

In a special release, the union observed that the new fees range from N133,500 to N372,500, depending on the courses.

“We note with concern that this increment represents about 450% to 750% of the previous bundle fee which ranged from about N20,000 to N30,000,” the students’ body said, noting that it was not in support of the increment. It, however, advised fresh students to exercise patience and not rush to pay the new fee.

It condemned the “increment in strong terms, and requested that this proposed increment be reverted to the status quo”.

“We are also requesting for a meeting with the University Management towards resolving this issue,” it said.

According to Indy Press, a student publication, the Students’ Representative Council (UI’SRC) led by Rt. Hon. Omotunde Olamide on April 11, 2024, called for an emergency sitting in a bid to determine the union’s stance regarding the inflated fee for incoming students