Reduce tuition fees in tertiary institutions, Ondo APC youths urge Akeredolu

Fees
By Alaba-Olusola Oke
Akure, March 11, 2020 (NAN) Some youths from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state have urged government to reduce tuition fees being paid by students in state-owned tertiary institutions to make life bearable for the citizens.
The youth, under the aegis of Alliance Democracy Mind (ADM), made the call in a communique signed by the Coordinator, Mr Wale Dada, and made available to newsmen by Adelokiki Orimisan, the group’s Publicity Secretary.
ADM, a conglomerate of 13 viable groups of APC in the state, added that similar downward review of tuition fees was done recently by the Oyo State government.
The youth asked for immediate payment of sustainable scholarship and bursary awards for the indigenes of the state in various tertiary institutions, which, they said, was stopped over three years ago.
“It is rather unfortunate that the state government has declared a geometrical growth in its internally-generated revenue for three years and yet, no single student has enjoyed government scholarship or bursary throughout this period.
“Instead, Akeredolu’s administration has continued to increase the tuitions in Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo and other state tertiary institutions.
“Primary and secondary schools are not left behind, as parents were coerced into paying for ‘collectibles’, while many states with lesser financial buoyancy are rooting for free and compulsory qualitative education.
The group also demanded for democratically-elected party candidates in the forthcoming April 18 local government elections, frowning at what it called imposition of candidates.
“The party and the state government should look into imposition of candidates and see the need for initiation of citizen-oriented programmes, while provision of basic amenities should commence immediately,” they said.
When contacted on the telephone, Mr Donald Ojogo, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that he could not react to the allegations.
Ojogo directed NAN to contact the state Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Mr Femi Agagu.
However, all efforts to reach Agagu proved abortive, as he neither picked the calls put across to him nor replied the text message sent to him. (NAN)
OKEO/OIF/WAS
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo and ‘Wale Sadeeq