Students of Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of the state on Monday, embarked on a protest over an increase in school fees.
The protest, it was gathered, grounded academic activities in the institution for some hours.
It was further gathered that the university recently announced an increase of more than 75% increase in the school fees for the fresh students in the 2020/2021 academic year.
The freshers who are indigenes of the state were mandated to pay the sum of N90,000 from the initial N53,000 while non-indigenes are to pay the sum of N120,000 respectively.
All returning students were to pay the same amount they paid last session which is N53,000 for indigenes and N73,000 for non-indigenes of the state.
It was gathered that the protesters who blocked the main entrance of the institution at Ikot Akpaden campus maintained a peaceful disposition.
The students displayed placards of various inscriptions such as, “NANS demands immediate reversal of school fees, “#OccupyAKSU, mother of all protest,” among others.
One of the students who spoke on condition of anonymity told our correspondent in Uyo that it was unfair for the University Authorities to increase school fees with the prevailing harsh economic realities in the country.
“The country is going through serious economic hardships occasioned by the COVID-19, and for the school authorities to come up with a hike in school fees at this time is very encouraging” the source said.
Another student who identified herself as Ella said the students will resist every attempt to increase school fees at any given opportunity.
Meanwhile, the institution’s director of Information, Mr. Akaniyene Ibanga, could not be reached as at press time as he never responded to calls put across to him by journalists.
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