The Ogun State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has give the management of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, 72hr ultimatum to reverse the newly introduced medical fee of N2,000 or have the school shut down.
Damilola Simeon, the Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) who blamed the Acting Vice Chancellor of TASUED, Prof. Wole Banjo, for the protest and accused him of hiking fees payable by students of the school.
Simeon said the Acting VC, in less than two months after his appointment, increased the acceptance fee and promised not to increase any other fee after NANS representative met him on behalf of the many indigent students in TASUED.
“If he refuses to reverse that fee between now and the next 72 hours, we are going to that school to shut it down. I myself will lead the teeming Nigerian students to the school and we are going to shut it down. They won’t be able to run their daily activities unless the needful is done”, the Chairman threatened.
He reiterated that there are series of protests going on in the University of Education, stating that the Acting Vice Chancellor is fond of making anti-students policies like the introduction of the N2, 000 medical fees.
Meanwhile, students of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), trooped out on Friday, March 19, 2021 in protest against the newly introduced medical fee of N2,000 by the management of the university.
The Educational Tide witnessed the large turn-out of students chanting angrily “we say no to urgent 2k”. Declaring their non-acceptance of the new increase of N2000 medical fee
The protesting students boycotted the ongoing second semester examination on slated to commence on March 19, threatening to picket the university unless their demand is met.
Prof. Wole Banjo, the Acting Vice Chancellor, in his reaction to the ugly development over the new medical fee stated that the N2000 is what the Federal Government approved as Tertiary Institution Social and Medical Insurance Scheme.
“All over the country, it is a rule by the Federal Government. We staff, we keyed into it, we are paying every month. All over the country, university students are paying and that N2, 000 (Two Thousand Naira) is the least of payments in all tertiary institutions in Nigeria. If not for the increase in prices of drugs, we would not have done that, because to take care of over 20,000 students is not easy. That is why we decided that they should start paying so that we can improve the health facilities on campus”, Banjo said.
Abdul-Azeez Soneye, the President of TASUED Students Union Government, however explained that the N2,000 medical fee was introduced on the students portal, all of a sudden.
He maintained that the protest would continue if the management of the university refuses to cancel the new medical fee.
“This protest action, which resulted in the cancellation of GNS221 exam earlier scheduled for Friday was as a result of the N2, 000 medical fee payment that was introduced on the students portal. The union members have since taken a stance that the fee should be cancelled” , Soneye affirmed.
The SUG President, however, stated that the TASUED management opened a room for dialogue with the students, adding that a meeting was held immediately after the protest.
“The meeting ended with both the management and students union members agreeing to reconvene on Thursday, 25TH of March, for further deliberation.We are resolute that the university management would surely listen to the plight of the students and grant this demand,” he said.
Besides, Soneye apologized to the students who could not sit for their papers on Friday.
“We sincerely apologise for whatever inconvenience the protest might have caused you. We remain resolute as victory is certain. Aluta Continua!”
