Ekiti Nursing College Faces Backlash Over N1M Fee for Substandard Rooms

The management of Ekiti State College of Nursing Sciences, Ado-Ekiti has instructed students to pay N250,000 each as accommodation fee for the ongoing academic session.

It was reported that the school is charging a total of N1 million to house four students in a single room.

Some of the impacted students who spoke to the media mentioned that the management imposed the new fee after the establishment of a new hotel.

“At the old hostel, we are paying around N50,000 per student and the old hostel is even more spacious and appears to be more comfortable than this new one despite the exorbitant fee,” one of the students said.

A video obtained by the media shows that the new hotel lacks modern amenities, raising concerns about the justification for its fees.

“The students are four in a room and each one is to pay N250,000, totalling N1 million to stay in a room that can barely accommodate two people,” the father of one of the students said.

A statement issued by the EKSUTH College of Nursing Science Ado-Ekiti Parents Body revealed that the parents visited the hostel and found the rooms too small to fit four students as planned by the school.

The parents’ group stated: “Kitchen and Bathroom: These are inadequately sized, measuring just one asbestos sheet in size.

“Ventilation: There is no proper cross-ventilation due to the proposed overcrowding and size of the single window in the rooms.”

“Basic Amenities: Rooms lack fans and wardrobes are far too small to even accommodate two occupants,” the parents maintained.

They have therefore requested a reduction of the accommodation fee from N250,000 to N100,000 per student.

The statement continued, “Reduction in Room Occupancy: Each room should accommodate not more than two students due to its small size.

“Fair Pricing: It is untenable to charge one million naira (N1,000,000) per room that is (N250,000 x 4 students), especially when similar hostels built by the same developers at FUOYE charge less than N200,000 per room for two occupants.”

The alumni association of the school also expressed similar concerns.

The union stated that accommodation fees are the highest in Ekiti State for both private and government schools.

The group continued: “When we extend our net to gather more information, we also found out that it is the most expensive around the Southwest region.

“Substandard Facilities: Despite the high cost, the hostel lacks essential amenities such as proper ventilation, fans, and air-conditioning. The living conditions are grossly inadequate, making the fees unjustifiable. The room interior, the poorly designed and substandard bathroom and toilet.

“Economic Hardship: In light of the current economic challenges, it is inconsiderate and unrealistic to impose such exorbitant fees on students and their families.”

The former students also urged the school to “revert to the old hostel system” and “allow students to return to the old hostel facilities, where they paid an affordable annual fee of N50,000.”

“These hostels met students’ needs at a reasonable cost,” the body said.

It said, “Freedom of Accommodation Choice: Permit students to seek alternative housing options outside the school premises, in line with their financial capacity and preferences.

“Given the dimensions of the room, a maximum of two students should be accommodated to ensure comfort and adherence to space requirements.”

When contacted for comment, the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Mrs. Adaramola, declined to address the concerns raised by students and parents over the phone with the media.