Students, UniAbuja Authorities On Collision Course Over Outrageous Fees, Others

There seems to be no end in sight to the protest between the students of the University of Abuja and Authorities of the institution over issues of ‘outrageous fees’ and other conditions imposed by the management on the students.

The students had on Monday morning besieged the school and demanded the opening of the portal for payment of school fees.

They had also demanded an extension in the payment of school fees till the end of the session, no late registration fee, reduction of school fees ahead of next session and postponement of first semester examination till March 8 this year.

The students said that they cannot afford to pay “outrageous school fees” within a short period of time.

A member of the school’s Student Union Government told THE WHISTLER that as of the time of their protest, the school management has not attended to them.

Also, another SUG member urged the students not to be discouraged until their demands are met.

But reacting to the development, the management of the school described the student protest as an “unfortunate” incident, saying it had addressed their demands.

The Head, University Relations, UNIBUJA, Dr Habib Yakoob accused some of the students of trying to disrupt the school’s schedules.

In a press release sent to THE WHISTLER, he claimed that the students had enough time for registration and that the school was being guided by its calendar.

He was silent on the call for the review of examination date.

The statement reads in part, “This morning, Monday 1st February 2021, at 7:30am, some students blocked the Main Gate of the University, preventing other students and staff from gaining access into the campus. The students said they were demanding the reopening and extension of school fees payment portal, cancellation of late registration fee, and postponement of exams till 8th of March 2021.

“The University Management states that following the release of 2019/2020 Academic Calendar by the Senate of the University, the registration of students was to be done in four weeks.”

The statement added that following the expiration of this process, the University closed the portal in February 2020 in line with the 2019/2020 Academic Calendar.

It added, “Yet after pleas from the students’ union, the Vice-Chancellor, in his magnanimity, twice directed the reopening, at different times, of the portal to accommodate those who didn’t register on time.

“In the last one week, a couple of meetings were held with the students’ union which again demanded the re-opening of the portal. The University administration held emergency meeting with the union at 2.00pm on Sunday 31st January 2021 and considered their appeal.

“Consequently, the portal was reopened on Sunday 31st January 2021 for registration, for another two weeks – till February 14 2021, and the students were duly informed.

“Again, the late registration fee for those who had not paid their school fee as well as those who paid but did not register, was waived; and late registration fee of N5, 000 was to be refunded to students who had earlier paid.”