Ibadan Poly suspends Students’ Union, postpones exams over protest

The management of The Polytechnic, Ibadan in Oyo State, has suspended the Students’ Union Executives and its activities indefinitely over protest by students in the early hours of Monday.

The polytechnic, in a statement issued on Monday by its Registrar, Modupe Fawale, also postponed the first semester examination scheduled to commence on Monday, January 9 indefinitely.

It was gathered that the students had earlier blocked all access roads to the Oyo State Government Secretariat, while the school gate remained under lock and key and guarded by the operatives of the Amotekun Security Outfit.

It was learned that the students were protesting the increment in fees for hostel accommodation from N5,000 to N15,000 and the use of a consultant to run the affairs of the school.

However, the management of the institution described the protest as ill motivated and politically inclined.

”The students union body has no formal complaint before the management concerning the examination slated to commence on Monday, January 9, and therefore, their protest to the state secretariat is questionable.

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”The management further noted that the students’ union breached the rule of decency by locking all the gates that lead to the institution and thereby causing unwarranted hardship to their colleagues.

“The management was concerned over the hardship the protest extended to the members of staff of the institution, their host communities, neighbouring university of Ibadan, and to the general public at large, especially those who have engagement with the institution.

”It is on record that The Polytechnic, Ibadan students pay one of the lowest tuition fees among their contemporaries in the South-West.

“Payment of tuition has been made flexible and convenient as students pay 60 per cent of the tuition fee during the first semester and pay the remaining 40 per cent during second semester.

“The Institution has not increased tuition in the last couple of years.

“Protesting on a day that they should be sober and commence their examination which is a major academic activity leading to the award of their diploma is ill advised, politically motivated.

“It is therefore of no reasonable value to the students and indeed to the development of education,” the Registrar noted.

Fawale said the management of the polytechnic will review the situation and issue a statement on when the suspended examination will commence.

“We appeal to students to return to class and prepare for their examinations. We also appeal to parents and guardians to call their wards  to order,” she added.

The Star