The management of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State, has announced the suspension of academic activities for one week.
The development came hours after the students protested the tuition hike on Monday.
The Registrar of the institution, Olubunmi Elewodalu, disclosed this on Monday evening, in a statement sent to newsmen in the state.
Elewodalu said the closing down of the school was due to the prevailing circumstances referring to the students’ protest which rocked the school.
Elewodalu said, “The temporary suspension of academic activities is a result of the need to address the prevailing circumstances in the polytechnic
“The suspension of the academic activities will be effective from Monday 9th Friday, October 13th, 2023. During this period all students are directed to stay away from the campus until otherwise directed”.
The students of the school had on Monday morning protested the hike in the acceptance fee paid by newly admitted students among other issues.
The students, who trooped out to the campus gate as early as 7 am were seen in their numbers holding placards with inscriptions such as #No To Increment of Tuition Fee, #Rector Must Go, #Release our Result ASAP among others.
Men of the Nigeria Police Force were also present at the scene.
It was gathered that among the issues affecting the students included delays in the release of results, a shortage of staff, and an increment in the acceptance fee for fresh students.
The Students Union President of the institution, Babatunde Adelola, noted that the management alleged that the institution is not getting adequate subsidy from the state government, which prompted the hike in acceptance fees paid by fresh students from N35,000 to N50,500.
Adelola lamented the delay in the release of results. This, he said, has affected the academic performances of students.
“We have many reasons to protest. Recently, the school said they are not getting funding from the state government and they need to generate funds internally which was why they increased the acceptance fee from N35,000 to N50,500.
“Aside from the hike in fee, the delay in the release of our result is affecting students. For instance, those who graduated in the last session are yet to be mobilised for service.
“I am in HND 2 second semester and I am yet to see the result of the exams I did in HND 1 second semester. This is affecting students because they do not know their academic standing and how well to prepare for the next exams.”
Adelola noted that all efforts made by the student body to dialogue with the polytechnic’s Rector, Adeoye Odedeji, have proved abortive due to his unavailability.
He, however, demanded immediate reversal of the fee and urgent release of outstanding results.
“We requested to meet the Rector through the DSA but we were told that he is not available. They gave us another appointment which they did not honour. Last Monday when the non-academic staff decided to protest, they asked us to meet again but it also failed.
“We are demanding immediate reversal of the acceptance fee back to status-quo and urgent release of outstanding results,” he concluded.
Another student of the institution, Olamide Ojelade, expressed fear that the increase in the acceptance fee can also lead to an increase in school fees if tolerated.
Ojelade declared, “The acceptance used to be N25,500 before it was increased to N35,000 and now it has been increased to N50,500. Before they increase school fees again, that is why we are protesting.”
The Public Relations Officer of the institution, “Yemi Ajibola, said that the students did not inform the school of their grievances which makes it difficult for such grievances to be addressed.
“The management is not aware of their grievances because they did not inform us of any reason why they are protesting. The management needs to be informed of what their grievances are for the management to be able to sit and deliberate on them. If they channel their grievances appropriately, it will be attended to,” Ajibola concluded.
