The Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, has made an appeal to tertiary institutions owned by the Ogun State Government, urging them to reconsider the recently increased tuition fees and reduce the financial burden on students and their parents.
News About Nigeria reports that the call comes in the wake of protests by students from Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, and Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, who took to the streets to express their dissatisfaction with the fee hikes.
During Wednesday’s plenary, Minority Leader Lukman Adeleye brought the issue to the attention of the Assembly, highlighting the sudden rise in fees and the subsequent student protests.
He appealed to the Assembly to intervene and ensure a reduction in the increased fees.
In response, Speaker Oluomo acknowledged the economic challenges faced by parents and stressed the importance of the heads of tertiary institutions showing compassion and empathy.
He emphasised the need for the fees to be affordable, taking into consideration the current economic conditions and the difficulties faced by parents.
The Speaker noted that it was “important for the Heads of the tertiary institutions to show more compassion and empathy by allowing the new fees to wear human faces so as not to put the students at a disadvantage.”
While recognising the institutions’ need to increase fees to meet pressing needs, Speaker Oluomo urged them to strike a balance that allows the fees to be both reasonable and in tune with the economic realities faced by students and their families.
