Nigeria : KwaraPoly students lock down ilorin over N10,000 charge for late registration

ILORIN-There was pandemonium in Ilorin, kwara state capital Tuesday morning as Hundreds of

students of Kwara state polytechnic took to the major  streets  to protest the management’s decision to charge extra  N10,000 ‎fee as penalty for late registration. The protest however yielded results as the polytechnic management in a swift reaction reduced the charge for late registration from N10,000 to N5,000 and promised to pay back the students who have already paid.

As early as 8.00 a.m, the students had taken over Ilorin- Jebba road, Ilorin with various inscriptions like,”Revert your. Decision”, “No to extra charge of N10,000”, “Economic downturn is killing” among others burnt used tyres on major street junctions i‎n ilorin,thereby obstructing vehicular movements. Many residents caught unaware by the development  were stranded and so had to return home because of their inability to arrive their destinations as planned.

Vanguard reliably gathered that, the management of the institution had fixed December 11, 2015 as deadline for the registration of students with the calculation  that whoever  fails to meet the deadline will be made to pay N10,000 as extra fee. It was however gathered that, when the deadline lapsed, the management of the institution decided to charge extra N10,000 on any student  that failed to meet the deadline,a development that sparked yesterday’s protest as the students cited harsh economic condition for their action.

The students during the protest claimed that most of their parents have not been paid their salaries which hitherto  led to the delay in the meeting of the deadline of the school authorities. The students also alleged that, the management of the institution was increasing their school tuition fees without considering the current economic situation in the country.

While calling on the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed to call the management of the polytechnic to order, the students specifically asked the governor to look into the financial situation of the institution in order to bail out the students.

‎Contacted, the Deputy Registrar, Information and Communication, Alhaji Moshood Amuda said that, the management of the school has reduced the late registration charge from N10,000 to N5,000 with immediate effect. According to him,”to students who have paid the penalty charge of N10,000, the management will make arrangement to refund the difference”.

He however advised the students to remain calm and peaceful, saying that, they should vacate the highway and desist from public disturbance.

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