The students of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, on Tuesday, have taken to the street to protest the increase in the school fees by the management.
It was gathered that the main gate of the school was blocked by aggrieved students, thereby paralysing academic activities.
The bone of contention of the students with the school’s management is the increase in school fees and other levies, which resorted to a protest.
The development disturbed activities as workers were unable to get to their destinations.
The staff of the university and visitors were unable to enter the campus as all activities were disrupted.
The major highway leading to Iworoko town, Ifaki, Oye and its environs were also blocked by the students leading to heavy gridlock along the route.
The students vowed not to open the gate at the time of filing this report.
Speaking with newsmen on phone, the Students Union President, Dotun Ogunsanya explained that apart from the increase in school fees which has been on the ground, the major cause of this particular crisis was the imposition of late registration fees of N10, 000 which did not go down well with students.
“We held a meeting with the management on Monday, where they agreed to reduce it to N5, 000 and I advised them to meet with the faculty presidents but the faculty presidents turned the offer down.”
The Interviews Nigeria as monitored on the TVC News revealed that the University initially charged ten thousand nairas for late registration but the leadership of the students union pleaded on behalf of the students and the school management agreed to slash it to five thousand nairas which did not still go down well with the students.
Meanwhile, the EKSU’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Edward Olanipekun has announced the suspension of academic activities on campus for two weeks with immediate effect.
A statement from the Head, of the Directorate of Information & Corporate Affairs, Bode Olofinmuagun stated no student must be seen on campus for two weeks.
The statement added that:
“Arising from the above, all students of the university are ordered to vacate the campus premises immediately and should not be seen within the campus premises for the next two weeks.
“Parents and guardians are hereby advised to invite their wards home immediately. Any student found wandering around the university premises does so at his/her own risk.”