LAUTECH Tuition Hike: Oyo APC Questions Makinde’s Commitment To Education

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has expressed strong disapproval over the recent hike in tuition fees at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso.

The party described the increase as a deliberate move to deprive the masses of affordable university education, essential for a promising future for their children and wards.

In a statement issued on Friday by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the APC revealed that the institution’s management had released a document confirming another rise in tuition fees for both returning and new students preparing for the upcoming academic session.

“This situation arises less than a year after the state government authorized a similar increase in tuition fees at the institution,” Olawale Sadare, the APC’s Publicity Secretary, stated in the release.

The APC also called on Governor Seyi Makinde to address allegations concerning his delay in fulfilling payment commitments to the Osun State government. These payments were part of the agreed compensation during the termination of the joint ownership of the university about four years ago.

“With this yet another astronomical hike in the tuition fees imposed on the students of LAUTECH for the second time within a year, Governor Makinde has again exposed himself as anti-poor. By implications, the PDP administration does not care about the future of those children of the poor whose only chance to acquire university education rests on affordable fees expected to be charged by public institutions such as LAUTECH which is owned by Oyo state,” the statement read.

Sadare further emphasized the financial burdens facing students, stating, “An average student admitted to study in LAUTECH would naturally face certain problems especially in the areas of transportation and accommodation all through his stay and coupled with the reality of the current economic situation in the country, the woes of many poor students have been compounded.”

The party criticized the tuition fee increase from N404,200 to N782,200 for non-indigenes and from N316,700 to N694,700 for indigenes. It described the development as an act of insensitivity, highlighting that the current administration inherited a tuition fee of N106,000 in 2019.

The APC also noted the emotional and financial strain the fee hike has caused parents, many of whom are struggling to cope with the new charges. The party urged the state government to reconsider its approach, arguing that public institutions should not be turned into profit-generating ventures at the expense of the public.

“No parent or guardian deserves to die or develop depression in their quest to educate their children or wards,” the statement added, while accusing the government of using the fee increment to enrich individuals in positions of power.

Additionally, the APC criticized the lack of transparency in the administration’s budgetary allocations to the education sector, alleging that funds meant to subsidize public education were being mismanaged. The party called for an independent audit of LAUTECH’s finances to ensure accountability.

The APC also advised the state government to explore alternative revenue sources rather than imposing financial burdens on students and parents. It proposed leveraging public-private partnerships to improve the institution’s funding and infrastructure.

“Education should not be a privilege reserved for the wealthy but a right accessible to every citizen regardless of their financial status,” Sadare emphasized. The APC reiterated its commitment to advocating for policies that prioritize affordable education and social equity.