The management of the University of Ibadan (UI) has issued query letters to four student activists for protesting against an increase in school fees.
News About Nigeria reported that UI increased the school fee from N20,000 to N400,000.
The students, identified as Aduwo Ayedele, a 200-level student from the Department of History, and Olamide Ghadegesin Iyanuoluwa, a 700-level student from the Institute of African Studies, along with Nice Linus and Adeyeye Oluwafemi, have been accused of gross misconduct.
The university management is considering expulsion as a potential consequence of the students’ actions.
The letters, dated May 24, 2024, and signed by Deputy Registrar (Students) Mr. T.I. Musa, allege that the students disrupted the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected Student Union Executives on May 15, 2024, by carrying placards with “scandalous inscriptions” against the fee hike.
The letter addressed to the students states, “The Student Affairs Division has received a report from the office of the Vice Chancellor proffered against you, that on Monday, 15 May 2024, yourself and three (3) other students, including an unknown person (Adeyeye Oluwafemi), disrupted the swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected Executives of the Student Union. At this event, Olamide Ghadegesin Iyanuoluwa, Nice Linus, Adeyeye Oluwafemi (an unknown person), and yourself carried placards with scandalous inscriptions against school fees increment.”
The letter further warns, “If this allegation is true, your actions constitute an act of gross misconduct, particularly unruly behaviour, in the presence of the Vice Chancellor and other members of the University Management. Please forward your response with supporting documents, if any, to the Deputy Registrar (Students) within 48 hours of the receipt of this letter, stating why disciplinary action should not be taken against you on account of this allegation. Failure to respond to the query within the period stipulated above and/or deliberate release of false information constitutes an act of misconduct which may result in automatic suspension of your studentship.”
In response, the accused students have vowed not to be intimidated and have indicated plans for further protests.
They argue that they were exercising their fundamental human rights by opposing what they see as unjust treatment of economically disadvantaged students.
