COMRADE BABATUNDE BADMUS(UI SUG PRESIDENT) WROTE: #20,000 ACCEPTANCE FEE UNACCEPTABLE Greatest UItes! The attention of the students Union has been drawn to the announcement of #20,000 acceptance fee to be paid by the newly admitted students of the University of Ibadan by the university management. We have also patiently examined the unpleasant reactions of students towards this ultra-geometricincrease in the acceptance fee and the fear it portends against next sessions school fees. Hence we wish to make some clarification about our stand. First, we wish to correct the egregiously erroneous impression expressed from some quarters that our sponsored trip to the UK spells doom for subsequent defense and protection of students right and welfare. On the contrary, our sojourn to be better leaders has only further impressed the uncompromising students first stand at all time on us. It should also be noted that at no point did the management inform us about the increment before they eventually announced it, so to us too, it was a shocker! Therefore, on our own part, even beyond the demand of some students for the justification of the increment, we see, at least from our current understanding, acceptance fee as arbitrary and accounting for nothing that directly touch the welfare of students. Thus, the tradition of increasing such fee yearly is ungodly, and becomes more dangerous to humanity when such increase is as astronomical as 100%. Justifying the increment becomes harder again when we note the recent injection of billions into the university by the FG for infrastructuraldevelopment and runnings of the institution. Nevertheless, on our own part, and given the complexity of our current circumstance we have resolved to approach the issue at hand pragmatically, involve the students legislators, council of faculty presidents, Hall Chairmen/chairpersons, past Union leaders around and other stake holders with a view to find a collective way forward, while we open a line of dialogue with the management. We are encouraged by the resilience against exploitation that you have strongly expressed so far and we do solemnly pledge that the representation of your interest will continue to come first in our priorities. While we commend the University Management for the support and understanding granted this administration so far, we do hope they will understand our stand yet again and bring down to status quo ante, the extraneous fee in the interest of humanity and continuous peaceful, harmonious and corporate existence of our university community. Viva Aluta, Viva Struggle
Posted on: Sun, 03 Nov 2013 15:37:48 +0000