The already economically drained parents of students of government tertiary institutions in Ondo state, may be in for much more difficult times, as the state government has imposed a new regime of a hundred percent increase in tuition fee on the students, even with new intake expected to pay more.
Despite government denial, the hundred percent fee increase regime in Ondo state schools, commenced few months ago when students of the Health Technology, Akure, suddenly woke up to the news of the astronomical increase in their school fees.
Information from one of the schools in the state, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, reveals another increase in the school fees by a hundred percent and above for new students.
In line with the development, students in the departments where N100,000 and N150,000 was paid last session, will now pay N200,000 and N300,000 respectively.
According to the details of the newly introduced fees, nursing students are now expected to pay N450,000.
Meanwhile, the tuition fee increase, which has been described as “the height of the insensitivity of the insensitive Lucky Aiyedatiwa led All Progressive Congress controlled goverment” by a parent, is beginning to generate high level rage, as many parents have vowed to resist the fee hike.
Mr Abiodun Mayaki, whose daughter is a Level 200 Biochemistry student said “there is no way this evil decision would be allowed to stand” adding that, “only a wicked leader would approve this type of astronomical increase at this time that parents are going through hell as a result of poor economic policies of the government”
Dr Tokunbo Aribisala, while also condemning the development said ” this is an affront too many”. Describing the timing of the increase in tuition fee as “unjustifiable”, Aribisala said ” with the steps being taken by the Aiyedatiwa government and some unreasonable economic decisions of the government,it may be safe to say these are all orchestrated attempts to provoke people into unnecessary social unrest that will prevent the enabling environment needed in an electioneering period”
A retired military personnel cum Theologian, Aribisala said “we need to beg God in this state to forgive us whatever sin we may have committed, so that we can have leaders who will be conscientious enough to realise that the masses too have the right to a life of comfort”.
