UniJos Students Stage Protest Over Hike In School Fees

Thousands of University of Jos (UniJos) students staged a peaceful protest on Tuesday over 300 percent increment in school fees.

The roads leading to the University was blocked by students protesting the recent increase in school fees and other services rendered by the institution.

According to new school fees chat signed by the Registrar of the university, Dr. Rejoice James Songden said N213,000 fee is for 100 and 200 level students while the 300 level students and above will now pay N160,000.

It was later reviewed to N110,000 and N140,000 respectively. Yet, many students could not afford to pay. Hence, they blocked the school gate to register their grievance.

According to a letter from the Student Union Government (SUG) signed by Hon. Yisa Victor Baba , the student Union government is negotiating with the management of UniJos with a view to further review the school fees downward.

The students also ignored the letter from SUG president as they came out in their large numbers to protest the hike in school fees.

Some of the student were seen carrying placards with inscriptions which read: “we do not want to drop out of school, UNIJOS review School fees downward”among other demands.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the university had in 2017 under the leadership of Prof. Sabastine Mamaiko increased school fees to N45,000 from N27,000.

The institution’s Vice Chancellor, then, Professor Sabastian Maimako, had cited the dwindling budgetary allocations, rising bills and the need to upgrade some materials.

Maimako said the figure was endorsed by parents, old students and other stakeholders at a meeting in Jos, where all factors were considered.

It was not ascertained if the current Vice Chancellor, Professor Tanko Ishaya, had the same agreement with the students Union Government, parents and the stakeholders before arriving at this humongous and outrageous school fees hike.

UniJos increment came a week after the University of Lagos (UniLAG) announced increment prompting parents and Nigerians in general to kick against the astronomical increase of school fees by universities in the country.

The Take-It-Back movement had described the current trend of fees hike by many universities in the country as a “neoliberal agenda” of the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government while millions of Nigerians are in abject poverty.