FUOYE defends ‘review’ of fees

THE management of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has explained why it had to ‘review’ upwards some of the fees charged by the institution, especially the acceptance and medical fees.

A press statement by the university’s director of administration in the vice chancellor’s office, Mr Godfrey Bakji, said FUOYE had not made “any significant increment of fees,” except for medical and acceptance fees, which he said are “for justifiable causes.”

It also faulted the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) which has threatened to disrupt academic activities on the twin campuses of the institution on account of the alleged fee hike.

It said it was curious that the threat to shut down activities came from NANS and not FUOYE students “when indeed, NANS president, Akpan Bamidele, had recently, after the September 10 bloody protest, in a peace meeting with FUOYE vice chancellor, Professor Kayode Soremekun, (had) praised the VC and management for maintaining cordial and caring relationship with students.”

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Bakji said: “FUOYE hasn’t put up any significant increment of fees, except for medical and acceptance fees for justifiable causes. Our medical fee now has to be N10,000 while the acceptance fee is now N50,000.

“Fees in federal universities are usually not unilaterally fixed. There are levels of consultations among stakeholders, which has been done or ongoing.”

On the increased acceptance fee, Bakji said the administration met many uncompleted projects and had to complete them with its meager resources. He cited examples of such projects to include the Central Administration, the newly completed hostel and the engineering workshop in Ikole, among others.

“There are so many developmental projects going on in the two campuses of FUOYE; and whatever we do in Oye, we have to repeat them in Ikole. Previously, we usually had all our 100 level students in Oye, but now because of security and convenience of students, we have moved the first year students in faculties of Engineering and Agriculture to Ikole campus, and this means that so many facilities that we already have in Oye campus such as the large lecture theatres, the sports complex, other lecture rooms, offices and others have to be repeated in Ikole campus.

“To do all these projects, we need money. But even at that, there hasn’t been any significant increment in our fees, except in some faculties and departments where some special fees have been suggested for practical workshops.

“We should look at what is currently obtainable in other universities. Acceptance fees in a state university, for instance, is currently N57,000 generally for their students. For medical and engineering students, their acceptance fee is over N100,000 currently. Ours is not even near such amount.”

He cited roads on the campuses of the institution that are still not tarred, which the university would need money to fix. He acknowledged the assistance of the Ekiti State government which has awarded contract to take care of 500 metres (of roads) on one of its campuses, but noted that there is still a deficit of around 20 kilometers to take care of.

“So, while we acknowledge the public spiritedness of our critics, they will always do well to dwell on the larger picture and reality which the university has to contend with,” he said.