Written by: Julius Toba Jegede
Labour Party’s candidate in this month’s governorship election Hon. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele has said the current tuition charges at the Ekiti State University, EKSU is outrageous.
He said EKSU despite its average status in the comity of Nigerian varsities still charges one of the highest fees in the country, being a minimum of one hundred and eighty thousand naira.
He lamented how the development which he said was exorbitant introduced by Fayemi had prevented many poor youths from attaining higher education.
He spoke in Ora-Odo Ekiti yesterday in Ido/Osi local government during his campaign rally, where he noted that peasant households in the state now find it difficult to meet up.
He revealed that it was part of Labour Party’s manifesto anywhere in the country not to charge fees that are above reach of ordinary parents across its institutions, adjudging LP as party of the people.
He urged Ekiti people to go and understudy all the state-owned tertiary institutions in the neighbouring states where and make comparison with Ekiti.
Bamidele particularly cited how Ondo State government under LP is still charging N25,000 as tuition per session in Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, despite its state-of-the-art installations.
He promised them that his administration when elected would strike a difference between qualitative and accessible education, and give them both.
He said “this administration does not have interest of the downtrodden at heart. This has been demonstrated in all areas particularly in the tertiary education sector where exorbitant fees are being charged not minding the peasant nature of Ekiti residents”
“It is against the philosophy of the founding fathers of Labour Party to charge schools at cut-throat rate and we shall not deviate from that. How do you expect a peasant farmer to send his wards to school with this kind of extortion?” he asked.
“Go to Ondo State where LP is in control and ask them how much they are paying in a similar institution even with better facilities and more conducive work environment for students and lecturers”
“Today Ondo State and LP as a policy charge N25,000 in Adekunle Ajasin University while APC in Ekiti is charging N150,000 and you can see the difference. I promise you that we shall replicate that policy in Ekiti State when we get to office. We will not make tertiary education an expensive commodity to your sons and daughters” he promised.