How to stop the LAUTECH crisis

WITHOUT having to consult a necromancer to foretell what the future holds for LadokeAkintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, it is obvious to discernible Nigerians that the future of the highly rated citadel of learning (by the National Universities Commission and some other educational organizations here and abroad) looks bleak, considering the apathetic way with which its ship is being propelled by the owner states of Oyo and Osun.

Like a recurring decimal, the media is awash with the din of the uproar, hullaballoo cum two solid days of peaceful demonstrations embarked upon by the angry students, demanding for the immediate reversal of the recent humongous increment of their school fees to the sum of N200.000 or N250.000 depending on the student’s state of origin.

• DEVELOPING: LAUTECH protests new tuition increase

It is distressful and sharply disheartening to note that LAUTECH is slipping towards the precipice due to constant and spasmodic academic calendar operation, occasioned by students’ unrest and closures by the owner states. The recent strike action which led to paralysis of activities in the university main campus is un-called for, and very unsavoury, if not because of the callous action of the owner states and LAUTECH management, jerking the school fees.

Increment of school fees in this moment of austerity, when parents and students of this institution hardly can afford a meal a day, is unpalatable. The increment, if care is not taken, might spell doom for its final closure. With the new increment, one can infer that there is no similarity between government-owned universities and the private ones. If the owner states are hell-bent on surging up the students’ fees, they should also take note that a lot of students would no doubt finally withdraw out of school to become a threat and nuisance to society at large.

It is therefore my candid admonition to the owner states and LAUTECH management to have a re-think and maintain the status quo ante sum of N65, 000 being currently paid by the students so that peace, tranquillity, progress and stability can reign in the university campus.

Sayo Alagbe, sayoalagbe64@gmail.com