By Eben Enasco Kingsley, Benin City
Students of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo state yesterday staged a peaceful protest against what they called the arbitrary hike of fees by the school management
The protesting students with various inscribed placards; Reduce Our School Fees, Education Is Not For The Rich Alone, No Reduction ,No Resumption, N165k No Be Beans, stormed the premises of the Nigeria Union of Journalists to registered their resentment
Spoke person for the group and Member National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) Governing Council, Comrade Edwin Ahkimien Okolose demanded for immediate reversal of the tuition fees hiked from the current N47,000 to 165,000 which represent over 400% increment
He said the economic reality in the country, coupled with the present 18,000 minimum wage many parents cannot afford such fees adding that the action of the institution management equally fell short of the idea of the founding father of the university to make education affordable to all.
He frowned at the decision of the school management to shunned the committee of management/ students representatives earlier suggested by NANS to negotiate the issues of fees
He said the students body (NANS) has consequently issued 24hours ultimatum to the University to shut down the school portal (KOFA) and immediately reverse the fees, adding that failure to comply, the entire students would be left with no choice but to embark on mass protest
