Management proposes 48.4% increment of charges, SU pleads reduction

*Meets Students' Union on 'reasonable concession'

*SU proposes 15% increment as Mgt promises possible reduction

The university of Ilorin management has on Monday cleared the air on the increment of the school charges saying the increment is only 48.4% as against the general conception of 100% and above. The management further explained what necessitated the increment.

The clarifications were made in a marathon meeting which lasted for about 6 hours with the representatives of the students' Union, the presidents of the faculties, the students' affairs units of the University and with other stakeholders in the school.

The meeting had in attendance, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Prof (Mrs) Malomo, the DVC Management who couples as Vice Chancellor representative Prof B.T Sule; The school Bursar, Mr Sunde; the Director of Corporate Affairs Commission, Mr Kunle Akogun alongside Prof (Mrs) Oladosu who represented the university registrar.

According to the DVC Academics, The management noted that even though the reaction of the SU was in order and that the university, as well, apologised for not involving the Union early enough, but the erroneous impression that the Union has created must be duly corrected.

In her clarifications, The DVC stated the new fee is only 23,700 for the returning students and 41, 600 for the new intakes. These inclusive of bandwidth and utilities charges which as at last session were charged separately.

As such, she stated that the university only increased the school charges by 48.4% which is 7300. As a breakdown: the charge which consists of about 17 items stands at 17,600; bandwidth at 5000 and utilities stands at 700, totalling 23, 300.

Prof Malomo then stated things that necessitated the decision by the management. According to her "as result of reduction in the federal government reimbursement for the university running cost on recurrent expenditure and the consideration on the financial realities on ground, it's imperative that the university management made adjustment in the charges."

"we don't do it arbitrarily, economic realities are put in consideration for instance, university expends about 300 to 360million naira on electricity not inclusive of generator maintenance which itself gulps about 50million on monthly basis."

"If management don't pay for electricity...and others, it's the students that will be the most uncomfortable so we must pay"

In the view of her clarifications, the Students' Union proposed a reduction of the increment to 15% which the management swiftly responded as "not being realistic".

The management however maintained, according to Prof B. F Sule, "We are going to review it, that's for sure!"

Moreso, on the issue of faculties and Departmental charges, Prof Malomo said the faculty and Departmental charges are "dependants on programme"

She suggested that for any negotiation on the increment, the students should "go to their faculty Deans "same to the departments"




Adetutu Abdullah & Fadlullah Azeez
UCJ-UNILORIN