FAYEMI NOT SINCERE ABOUT UNAD TUITION FEES - ONI's AIDE

Chief Media Aide to Chief Olusegun Oni, former governor of Ekiti –State, Mr Wale Ojo Lanre has questioned the sincerity of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governor of the State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi on the pegging of tuition fee payable in the State owned University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD) to N50,000, saying; “the slash in university tuition fee announced by Fayemi was actually a executive Council during the Oni's administration.”

Reacting to news of the tuition fee reduction, Ojo-Lanre, in a statement issued today and made available to journalists said no student of UNAD, apart from those in the 100 level was paying up to N50,000 at present.

“Before Oni left government, UNAD authority had been mandated not to carry out any increment in tuition fee beyond 25 percent and if the 25 percent of the highest fee being paid in the school, which is about N40, 000 is considered, the highest fee that would be paid in the university now will still be less than N50,000.

“Again, the fact remains that the controversial new fees regime was then only meant for new intake alone and as at today, only new admissions (100 level students) in 2009/2010 were required to pay the upwardly-revised fees.

“200 Level students are paying between N32,500 and N39,500 while 300 Level are paying about N2,000 less than 200 Level, and 400 Level paying N5,000 to N8,000 less than 300 Level, depending on the course of study.

“It is on record that the Exco directive made under the Oni-led administration also stated that all new intake who had paid the new fee would have credit balance in their favour which should be spread to other session. This directive had already been conveyed to the University Authority and as an autonomous institution, it was expected that the university would carry out the directive in accordance with its policies.

“Now, even with Fayemi's pronouncement, tuition fee of students paying N32, 500 will still be increased,” Ojo-Lanre said.

While urging Fayemi to stop playing politics with the welfare of Ekiti people, Ojo-Lanre said; “It is even a surprise that Fayemi is talking about tuition fee in UNAD having promised free education at all levels.

“But even if the judiciary-installed governor would want to continue his reign of deceit, he should at least be honest enough to say the truth and acknowledge what his predecessor did while in office.”