Students’ Union Rebuffs School fees breakdown, blames both Management and Government for the Sluggishness of Resumption.

Babatunde Jnr Tunde

In the late hours of 30th January, 2020, the Students’ Union of The Polytechnic, Ibadan led by Comrade Fadare Blessing organised an emergency meeting with all Faculty Presidents, Departmental Presidents, Public Relation officers and relevant stakeholders where they ironed out why the school has not been functioning well since the inception of the 2019/2020 academic session.
This comes as a result of the lack of residence for students over the four weeks of resumption and the defective portal for E-clearance. In this congress, the Students’ Union President was at his most remorseful state while speaking about the slow action towards the student’s welfare. He then mentioned that based on ALUTA protocol, they were passed consultation, consolidation, and the time for confrontation is now.

The hostel closure has been a nagging menace at one’s ribcage. If one could use the previous years as yardstick, all residents of the hostels would have already gotten used to the environment and settle as of now. But this year has been different and peculiar.
After four weeks of resumption according to the management academic calendar and two weeks of lectures, students are already expected on campus. Most students who are not residents of Ibadan. “I wonder, where does the Government or Management expect the students to live”.

Unity Hall of Residence

The hostel holds a freshman priority, the sophomore students who gets the rooms on ‘privileges’ are forced to squat with friends in the bleak hopes the portal would be opened. Now we have an overcrowded environment outside the campus.
Moreover, its hard to say categorically what exactly the problem is. The students would blame the management, the management would say it’s the government’s reform. (Treasury Single Account). At this point, it’s hard to fault the SUG stands, after all, they were voted in by students, to fight for their right. And if they can’t fight for that, then they are just figureheads hoping to siphon funds.

After series of consultations, it would appear that the management is playing a long con with the students. Hence, Sequel to Press Council’s article dated, 22nd of January 2020 titled, An institution in hibernation. Press Council spoke about the lack of a portal to pay. However, the story is different now, there is a website, there is a specified payment, but it’s not going through.
Furthermore, on the specified payment, the management has decided to combined all necessary payment in one go, that is, the 60% tuition fee, hostel fee, faculty and departmental levy, the entrepreneurship, medical and insurance fees. While this is a very commendable move to have students pay all package ones and for all, one also has to consider the economic situation. The sum of this is about seventy-five (N 75, 000).
At this point, most students have already rented apartments outside, and it would be totally unfair to pay another N20, 000 for hostel which is a prerequisite before you can access your course registration form. Most especially it was not the fault of the students; they wanted to pay, they could not, lectures have started, they had to attend classes so they went for the next best thing, getting private apartments.
Now the combination of this fees would rebuff some students who don’t have enough funds ready. If one could be forward, one would suggest the hostel payment is separated to have those interested to do so, straightaway.

With the words circulating, over two hundred stalites intend to retain a space in the hostel, this would have them at an impasse. Thus, there are rumours of a supposed renovation, but anyone who’s familiar with the hostels (Orisun, Olori, Ramat Main and Annex) would know nothing has been renovated in the hall of residence in the lifetime of the students. It’s ludicrous to believe that would stop payment.
The compulsory tag does not help anyone, as it would further delay the allocation of hostels. Believe it or not, there are some students who will not live off campus and they remain at home till the hostels are opened, these students are missing classes. This is not right, this shouldn’t be.

And this is where the Student Union comes in, they owe it to the students, freshers and stallites alike to ensure that they get what their money is worth. When will the hostel be opened, you ask me? Well, who would I ask?
Who knows? But one thing is for sure, we have a time bomb in our hands. Let’s hope someone chops off the wick before it explodes.
But our stand remains that of the students… and that is… Sir, please open up the hostels, with a separated fee.