Posted By Wale Alabi
Pe-News


The management of Osun State University has reaffirmed its decision to shut down students who refuse to pay their tuition fees and complete their academic registration before or on 13th of June, 2017.

The school position was made known during a stakeholders' meeting which was held on Thursday, 8th of June, 2017 inside the school auditorium and had in attendance; the representatives of students and Parents Association, Director of Intercampus and Public Affairs, Dr Anthony Kola-Olusanya, Public Relations and Protocol Officer, Mr. Jibola Oyekunle, ASUU Chairman, Dr Seye Abiona, NAAT Chairman, Mr Ismail Adeleke, Treasure SSANU, Mr. Samuel Obisesan, Acting Dean, Student Affairs, Dr Mrs Adigun, Acting Bursar, Mr. Samson Adegbite Acting Registrar, Mr Gafar Adebayo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Janet Olaitan Shittu and Vice Chancellor, Professor Olabode Popoola.

Unveiling the management resolution which has already been known to the students, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof Olabode Popoola explained the school cannot survive unless students promptly pay their school fees. He reminded the gathering that before every tuition fee was slashed by 50% by the government of Aregbesola in 2012, the school charges were in the region of #200,000 and around #250,000.

"What the school is currently charging is even ridiculous, in the sense that you will find some private secondary schools charging almost same amount per term," says the VC.

According to his mathematical analysis, the total accrual from school fees per annum if fully paid is not enough to offset the school annual wage bill.

"The school fees if completely paid is not enough to pay our wage bill not to talk of catering for other services.Running a productive academic system in university is not limited to payment of workers salaries alone, there are other essential services that needed to be provided as well. But, as ridiculous as our current charges are, the school management doesn't have an intention to upwardly review them." Prof Popoola confirmed.

Popoola expressed with disappointment how a sizable number of students decides to hold the school to ransom by expending their school fees on frivolous things.

He, however, made a clear statement that management won't only disallow defaulters from writing exams, but it will deny them a right to classrooms and lectures.

"Students who fail to pay within the stipulated time should stay away from our classrooms because we won't let them in." He continued.

Professor Popoola reminds the gathering of the existing rule of the university which states that "student who fails to pay his/her school fees over a period of two (2) semesters seized to be a student."
He assures the gathering that management decision under his leadership will continue to follow best practice as put in place by the rules and regulations guiding the university.

The VC pleads with parents to always recognize the fact that payment of children school fees is a paramount task which posterity would appreciate.

In his own remark, the Vice Chairman of Parents Association, Mr. Niran Ojo applauds the new VC for gregariously working to sustain smooth and uninterrupted academic activities in the university. He said the VC hasn't done anything that may trigger an unfriendly reaction from the parents.

Also, Mr. Ojo lauds the governor of Osun on his determination to transform the state to a modern society.
He emphasized all parents in their association are responsible but wouldn't rule out the possibility of having some irresponsible characters among the students. He cited a case of a student who regularly received his school fees at home but failed to remit them. He said the secret came open during the convocation ceremony when the said student couldn't graduate with his colleagues. It was at that spot his parents knew he had not been paying his school fees from 100 Level. All that was left was to weep with the parents for that gobsmacked scenario.

Mr. Ojo relied on that experience as a reference to advise the management to always satiate parents with their children status in the school.

On the issue of payment of school fees, he said parents were badly hit by the economic downturn.
Nevertheless, he promised that parents would meet to discuss and take necessary steps that will assist in regular and prompt payment of school fees.

On their side, representatives of students who were in attendance begged the management for the extension of the registration period. They said it's not totally correct that all defaulting students invested their school fees on the crashed MMM as being circulated around.

"We are not here to protest, fight, create chaos or argue, we are here to ask for mercy on behalf of other students. We are here to beg the management to have mercy on us, all we want is an extension of the registration period" says Iginla Owolabi one of the student leaders.

Adding his voice, The Chairman of the Academic Staff University Union {ASUU}, Dr. Seye Abiona expressed his concern about student's nonchalance towards payment of school fees which is a statutory responsibility of every student. He advised the school to learn from the calamity that befell LAUTECH for handling its workers' salaries with levity.

Dr. Abiona also expressed worries over the failure of students to take advantage of the school massive investment in construction to get themselves a part time job that could help their financial condition.

He explained the school has created some platforms to assist serious and determined students who are financially unstable to independently sponsor their academics.

"It's quite unfortunate no student tapped from the job opportunities created by the management initiative" Dr. Abiona submitted.

Various contributions were added by the representatives of University of Osun Alumni Association and other attendees, all enjoin students to pay their fees while they plead with the management to consider an extension of the registration period.

In his closing remark, Prof Labode Popoola thanks, all attendees, prays for parents, and students to be abundantly blessed abound for them to be liquid enough to pay their fees before the closing date.


He insists on the management resolution of shutting down defaulters on 13th of June, 2017.


http://progressivese-group..com.ng/2017/06/pay-your-school-fees-or-stay-off.html?m=1