Students protest fee hike as MAPOLY suspends academic activities

Students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) in Abeokuta, Ogun state, on Monday, staged a protest over an increase in their fees.

The protesting students took to the streets of the MAPOLY campus with placards expressing their concerns about the state of affairs in the institution.

Their placards had such inscriptions as “No To Increment of Tuition Fee” and “Rector Must Go”.

Among the burning issues, it is understood, are the delay in the release of student results, concerns around a shortage of staff, and an increment in the acceptance fee for fresh students.

Babatunde Adelola, the student union president at MAPOLY, said the management alleged the institution is not getting adequate subsidy from the state government.

Adeola added that the management said this prompted a hike in acceptance fee from N35,000 to N50,500.

In a statement signed by the students union executive, the protesters are demanding a reduction of the acceptance fee, and an increase in the number of lecturers, among others.

“On hike in acceptance fee, the management added a whooping sum of N15000 to the usual N35,000 Acceptance Fee payment on all fresh and returning students of the institution, the statement reads.

“It is however imperative that the management review this decision and reverse the fee to the usual N35,000.

“On the shortage of lecturers, we seek lasting solutions from the institution by employing individuals who are up to the task and competent in their respective fields to lecture in the department in order to breed outstanding students as usual.

“On the delay in Release of Results and Mobilization for NYSC, this is another heartbreaking issue that needs urgent attention of the management as though the last set of students that graduated over a year ago hasn’t been mobilized for NYSC till now.”

The protest comes at about the same time when MAPOLY suspended academic activities over striking workers.

Last Thursday, both the academic and non-academic staff of the polytechnic embarked on an indefinite strike.

The workers cited nonpayment of their July, August, and September salaries.

In an internal memorandum sent to all students, Olubunmi Elewodalu, the institution’s registrar, said the management is suspending academic activities for one week, starting from October 9.

“The Management of the Polytechnic on behalf of the Academic Board is hereby announcing the suspension of all Academic activities for a period of One (1) week,” it reads.

“The temporary suspension of academic activities is a result of the need to address the prevailing circumstances in the Polytechnic.

“The suspension of academic activities will be effective from Monday, 9th October to Friday, 13th October, 2023. During this period, all students are enjoined to stay off the campus until otherwise directed.