Students protest fee hike in YABATECH

Students across various organisations under the umbrella of Save YABATECH on Thursday stormed the Yaba College of Technology to protest what they termed unjust increment in the school fees and the proscription of the college’s students’ union.

The participating organisations, which included the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), Alliance of Nigerian Students against Neoliberal Attacks (ANSA), among others, said the protest was called to sensitize the public on the plight of students on the campus and the country at large.

The protesters, who carried placards with various inscriptions, moved round the campus in solidarity with the students on the campus, and called on the management of the school to retrace its step or face mass movement against what they called tyranny of an administration.

In a statement issued by ANSA and signed by its Acting Coordinator, Olajuwon Sanyaolu, said the nation’s economy does not support any form of increment and so it should be reversed.

The statement issued by the group stated in part: “The management of the institution increased the fee to an outrageous amount as high as over N50, 000 in addition to N20, 000 acceptance fee with little or no regard for the students and staff unions.

“It is quite unfortunate that the management had in the most despotic and embarrassing manner, placed a ban on the democratic right of the students, that is the students’ union.”

But in its reaction to the development, the college management has described the protesters as nosey parkers, saying the protest was not only unjust but also an act of insubordination.

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