Students of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), Ondo State disrupted academic activities yesterday over hike in their school fees.
The Rector, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, shut the institution for two weeks as a result of the protest.
The student went on rampage after the students’ union leadership met on Sunday and resolved to stage a protest over the fees’ increment.
According to the students, full time students, who are indigenes, are expected to pay over N60, 000. Non-indigenes are to pay over N70, 000. Newly admitted students are expected to pay over N90, 000.
The irate students blocked the institution’s gate as early as 6.am and prevented lecturers and other members of staff from gaining entrance into the premises.
The protesting students barricaded the Akure/Benin/ Abuja expressway and stopped vehicular movement for several hours.
Several properties, including the girls’ hostel building, a new generation bank’s Automated Teller Machine (ATM,) the bank’s signages and some bill boards were damaged.
The aggrieved students extended their protest to the newly dualised Owo township road where they made fire burn at junctions, including in front of the Olowo of Owo palace, thereby paralysing business activities in the town.
Eyewitnesses account said one student slumped and several others were injured during the protest.
Speaking with reporters during the protest, the Vice-chairman of the Joint Campus Committee (JCC) of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) Ondo S,tate chapter, Comrade Olasunkanmi Pelebe said the fees were exorbitant.
He said the students were paying more than their counterparts in other polytechnics in the Southwest.
Addressing the protesting students, the Rector of the institution, Prof. Ajibefun appealed to them to maintain peace.
The rector said the fees would be discussed by the management and the students representatives.
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