Alimot Akinsanya and Kabirat Agboola
The students of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti have expressed their concerns about the increase in departmental and faculty fees.
Kudrah Abdulrasaq, a 400-level student of biochemistry described the issue as a way of extorting money from students.
“The executives are just extorting money from students, money they cannot account for. Considering the large population of students compared to the huge amount of money we are paying, there is nothing to point out that this is what the money is being used for.”
According to Zainab Faderin, a 300-level student from the department of accounting, the prices are too much to bear
“Imagine paying like N3,500 for departmental due and N2,500 for faculty. If the executives are asked about the increase, their excuses are always about the dinner night and hike in the price of foodstuffs. The executives should try to compromise and reduce the price a bit, especially for those that are less privileged.
“It is people who attend the dinner night that get the worth of the amount asked for. Imagine paying for something you are not enjoying,” Faderin lamented.
A 100-level student from the Department of guidance and counselling also expressed her displeasure at the situation.
“The money stream A students are paying is too much, putting aside the school fees payment. The executives should cut off some expenses. It is our parents’ money we are spending and they are working tirelessly for this morning.”
She further conveyed her sadness at the quantity of the handbook she paid for.
“The handbook we paid for is something they could have given us for free. It wasn’t worth it at all; it included course codes and titles we would later be informed about or in class.”
Speaking with UCJ FUOYE reporters, Inioluwa from the Department of business administration expressed her concern at the occurrence.
“What they said we are paying for, do we get these things the way we should, like souvenirs, dinners, and the rest? Sometimes, we don’t even get the worth of the money we paid for. The executives need to also think of students who can’t afford these fees especially after paying their school fees.”
On A Contrary Opinion
A 300-level student who wants to remain off the record said:
“The money students are paying for has its advantages. Part of it is used to sort out departmental activities and souvenirs, the same also goes with the faculty. Due to the hike in the price of goods, we should understand these executives. As students, we also have to pay because this payment has a part to play during clearance.’
Adekunbi Ifeoluwa, a 100-level stream A student of microbiology said:
“I am not bothered even if there is an increase or decrease as long as I have the money to pay. I’m not even expecting anything from the money I paid. If I also get to positions these executives find themselves in, I might do the same thing although, I don’t have it in mind to go into politics.
As much as the increase is affecting me, I can’t blame the executives too much. Things are expensive. For instance, the cost of printing the souvenirs we collect per session is also increasing with time, Zainab Faderin also added.
Executives Contributions
Adelusi Adeola, the Vice President of the department of Mass Communication said there is no increase in the department fee.
“The Mass Communication department did not increase any fee. The same amount freshers and staylite paid during the previous executive tenure is still the same amount they are paying with the present executives.”
When asked if students were getting the worth of their money, she said:
“These fees differ according to each department. It is not much if the executives are making provisions on different programmes and activities that benefit the students, but if they are collecting a specific amount and things that come out of it are invaluable to the students, then it is much.”
While speaking with UCJ FUOYE, Adedigba Taiwo, the President of the Faculty of science said, “This issue is currently undergoing deliberation in meetings with his SUG President.
Efforts made to speak with the Welfare Director of The Faculty of Social Sciences proved abortive.
She said, “For me to attend to this issue, I need your license or certificate to justify that you’re a journalist.”
SUG Reacts
In a memo signed by the FUOYESUG President, Comr. Ajayi Dotun, the Secretary, Comr. Oyebiyi Ridwan, and the Public Relations Officer, Comr. Akuraku Kofoworola, the Students’ Union Government said they are working round the clock to ensure that the collective interests of our students are protected and extortion of any form is reduced to the barest minimum.
“In lieu of this, we will like to inform all students not to make any departmental due payment yet until our consultations are concluded and we are very optimistic that it would be positive. However, students who have paid departmental dues for this session should rest assured that we would make proper provisions for them,” the memo reads.
