The students described the fee as obnoxious and as a heavy tax on their parents who are still battling with unpaid salaries and wages.
Aggrieved students from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State condemned the institution’s management for instructing students to pay a total sum of N25,000 as a “reparation fee” before the school would be reopened and allowed to continue academic activities.
Our correspondent reported that AAUA management had announced on Wednesday night that all students of the institution should proceed to the institution’s accredited banks and pay for the “reparation fee” of N25,000.
A release issued from the office of the institution’s registrar read that the students should print out their reparation acknowledgement slips as proof of payment, stressing that the deadline for the payment would be next week.
“Students are expected to print their reparation acknowledgement slips upon the successful payment. Note that this slip, along with the sworn affidavit, will be needed for clearance at the student’s faculty.
“Students are to note that payment for reparation fees commences immediately while student’s clearance begins on Monday, the 16th of May, 2016,” it read.
The students described the fee as obnoxious and as a heavy tax on their parents who are still battling with unpaid salaries and wages.
One of the students, Abiola Afolabi, who spoke with a SaharaReporters correspondent, criticized the management of the institution, noting that the levy slammed on them is unfavorable, anti-student, and could cause a crisis to break out at the school
“This is an act of selfishness by levying the sum of N25,000 on us as a reparation fee. Again, it is nothing but heartlessness and extortion. How much is our tuition fee? [Vice Chancellor] Professor Ajibefun and his gang of management in AAUA better wake up and stop this unfavorable decision that could give his tenure a bad name.
“I can’t just imagine why the Vice Chancellor would allow the governor and his cohorts to use him against the students of AAUA. I think this present administration hates us. We shall continue to fight for our rights no matter their plans against us are,” the student said.
She added that the student populace would continue to reject all forms of injustice and actions of the management, especially as the institution prepares for examinations.
It would be recalled that AAUA students staged a violent protest last month over the killing of their colleague identified as Afolabi Daniel Ojo, a second-year economics student who was crushed to death by a hit-and-run commercial motorcyclist in the sleepy town.
The protest led to a heavy clash between the angered students and the indigenes of the town, who were accused of harboring wanted criminals perpetrating evil against non-indigenous students of the institution, while the management also accused the students of damaging property during the unrest.