CDHR Decries Tuition Fee Increment In OSPOLY

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Osun State chapter has decried the recent increment in tuition fees of the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree.

In a statement by Emmanuel Olowu, the state chairman made available on yesterday, Osun CDHR described the increase as a flagrant violation of the right of Nigerians to accessible and affordable education in an era of removal of fuel subsidies.

The group urged the state government to immediately reverse the school fees increment as it negates the electoral promises of Governor Ademola Adeleke to the good people of Osun State.

Failure to do this, the group said the action would further aggravate the challenges faced by the students and parents as they are presently battling with the policy of fuel subsidy removal and unifying the foreign exchange rate.

“Furthermore, we would like the Government to note that in case it fails to reverse the said criminal increment, we shall become of the view that one of the criminal tasks your government gave Mr Kehinde Alabi is to come and generate funds for you at the detriment of the promise you made with the electorate which your recent act of cash disbursement to pensioners as palliatives shall also be seen as a mere political strategy of divide and rule and as a means to win public sympathy.”

It was earlier reported that the students of the institution and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) disagreed with the OsunPoly management over the decision to increase the tuition fees.

Also, a top management official, Dr Tope Abiola in defence of the increment stated that the increment was carried out because it was the right thing to do as the old school fees regime was not tenable at the present moment.

Abiola also added that a meeting has been fixed between the school management and the various stakeholders to arrive at a middle ground.

“It should be clear that we are deeply disturbed by the recent decision of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree to impose an exorbitant 117% hike in tuition fees, a move that directly contradicts the fundamental principles of accessible education as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“Education is a basic human right, and any attempt to commercialize it runs counter to the principles of justice, equity, and societal progress.

“The timing of this tuition fee increase is particularly troubling, coming at a period when the nation is grappling with the removal of fuel subsidies.”