UNIJOS students protest fee hike

Academic activities were disrupted at the University of Jos in Plateau State on Thursday as the students protested against the increase in their school fees.

The protest also resulted in the distruption of vehicular movements on the busy Jos-Bauchi roads.

Our correspondent learnt that a statement posted on the university’s website showed that tuition rose from N12, 000 to N27, 500, while accommodation fee increased from N4, 500 to N12, 500.



As early as 8am, placard-carrying students took over the main gate of the Bauchi Road campus of the university, condemning the increase and demanding a reversal.

Some of the placards read, ‘Daylight rape’, ‘our parents are government workers and have not been paid’, ‘many parents cannot afford the increase’, among others.

Acting President of the Student Union Government, of the institution, Miss Nanlop Maya, who led the protest, said the increase amounted to “commercialisation of education and a demonstration of ‘the insensitivity of the school management to their plight.”

She said efforts to meet with management to discuss the matter were rebuffed.

Maya said “I led a delegation of the students union body to negotiate with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) over the increment but we were denied audience. To my surprise, he said a mere student cannot interact with him.”

Registrar of the university, Mr. Jilli Dandam, who addressed the students, promised to take their grievances to the management.