OAU students protest tuition hike, block access to campus

Some students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Osun State, have protested the hike in their school fees by blocking access to campus.

The students, led by the President of the Students’ Union, Abbas Akinremi, in the early hours of Tuesday, October 3, shut the institution’s main gate to restrict vehicular movement.

In different social media posts the students with hashtags’FeeMustFall” and “SaveOAUStudents,” also called on the government to investigate the situation.

“I cannot afford to drop out. #FeeMustFall”, “My Mama dey sell Fufu, my papa dey ride Okada. Where you won make I see 90k? #FeeMustFall,” one of the placards read.

Students protesting against tuition fee hike at the OAU on Tuesday, October 3. Photo: OAU SU/X

Similarly, via its X handle, the union stated that it saw no reason for celebrating Independence Day when Nigeria’s education sector ‘is bleeding.’

The body wrote: “Why celebrate Independence Day when the educational sector is bleeding? Mr. Minister of Education, Nigeria Federal Government, we call on you all. Education is a right, not a privilege. #FeeMustFall #SaveOAUStudents.”

The protest came a few days after the union urged students of the institution to suspend payment of tuition fees following the slash in fee hike by the institution’s management.

On Wednesday, September 13, the institution’s management announced adjustments to the tuition fees.

This led to an immediate reaction from the students as the union requested that the management reverse the increment, citing the current economic challenges in the country.

A September 18 statement signed by Akinremi demanded the Federal Government reverse the tuition fee hike.

Credit: ICIR