The Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, has urged the state-owned tertiary institutions to cut down the fees charged to students, considering the economic hardship faced by many parents.
Oluomo made this appeal on Wednesday during a plenary session, where he responded to the issue raised by the Minority Leader, Lukman Adeleye.
Adeleye, who represents Odogbolu State Constituency, drew the attention of the Assembly to the recent protests by the students of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) and Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) over the hike in tuition fees by the institutions. He asked the Assembly to intervene in the matter and ensure that the fees are reduced to a reasonable level.
Oluomo acknowledged the adverse effects of the economic challenges on the parents and students, and noted that it was important for the heads of the tertiary institutions to show more compassion and empathy. He said that the new fees should be affordable and not put the students at a disadvantage. He also explained that while the institutions might have the need to increase their fees to meet their needs, given the high rate of inflation, they should also consider the plight of the indigent parents.
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The Speaker assured the students and parents that the Assembly would look into the matter and engage the relevant stakeholders to find a lasting solution. He also commended the students for conducting themselves peacefully during the protests and urged them to remain calm and law-abiding.