LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The administration of the University of Ibadan (UI) Oyo State, has taken steps to penalize students who protested against the recent tuition fee hike.
In a notice query issued to a student by the university’s Dean of Student Affairs, I.A. Abiona, on May 24 and shared on X on Tuesday, the University of Ibadan stated that protesting the fee hike in front of the vice-chancellor constitutes gross misconduct.
“The Student Affairs Division has received a report from the office of the Vice Chancellor proffered against you, that on Monday, 13 May 2024, yourself and three (3) other students including an unknown person (Adeyeye Oluwafemi), disrupted the swearing in ceremony for the newly elected executives of the Student Union,” the query read.
It added, “At this event, Olamide Gbadegesin lyanuoluwa, Nice Linus, Adeyeye Oluwafemi (an unknown person) and yourself carried placards with scandalous inscriptions against school fees increment.”
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The school accused the students of gross misconduct and threatened to suspend them if they failed to respond to the query within 48 hours.
“Your actions constitute an act of gross misconduct, particularly unruly behaviour in the presence of the vice chancellor and other members of the university management,” the letter stated
An activist who joined the protest, identified as “unknown person” in the query, Mr. Adeyeye, criticized the University of Ibadan for suppressing protesters instead of addressing their concerns.
He stated, “This nonsense is expected because our university system is run by autocrats,” Mr Adeyeye told Peoples Gazette on Tuesday when contacted for his response. It was just a peaceful protest in a hall. Very quiet until they brought security officers, bundled us out, beat us, brought in heavily armed soldiers and drove us to Agodi where they held us for four hours. Instead of addressing the issues protesters raised, they went for the messenger. But we will resist it.”
Upset by the University of Ibadan’s decision to punish students for protesting the fee hike amid the country’s economic hardship, an X user, @musediqramon, posted a copy of the query and criticized the university.
“The UI management has gone rogue again, some courageous students raised placards demanding that the demonic fee hike should be reversed, they were beaten, harassed, degraded and later arrested. Now, the management has summoned them with a view to expel them, we will resist,” he said.