Showdown imminent over 120% Ondo varsity fee hike

• VC says no going back as parents kick

Trouble may be brewing in Ondo State over the recent 120 per cent increase in tuition fee by the Vice-Chancellor of University of Medical Sciences, UNIMED, Ondo State, Prof Adesegun Fatusi.

The VC says there is no going back on the hike in tuition fees of the institution.

But parents of UNIMED students have kicked against the tuition fee hike, saying it would swell the number of out-of-school children.

Parents and students of UNIMED were shocked by the news of increment in fees by about 120 per cent for 2021/2022 session.

No explanation was given for this hike. Medical students have to pay as much as N1,320,000, as against N515,000 payable in the previous academic session (2020/2021).

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has always support increase in fees at tertiary institutions, since he assumed headship of the state.

The Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, and Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, have suffered serial closures over students’ protests bordering on fees’ hikes.

The Rufus Giwa Polytechnic in Owo shrank to a student population of 1,753, from over 9,000, due to fees increase.

Many private residential accommodations for students in Owo are said to be empty.

The UNIMED VC, Fatusi, said, “The institution is committed to offering quality education and this position would not be compromised.

“The parents have an option. Their children don’t need to study here. Other medical schools are available.

“We run this school almost free of tuition fees. This school is a specialised school and we cannot continue with the previous fees.”

But the parents have vowed to resist the tuition fee hike in the interest of their children.