The Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) administration has decided to postpone the start of classes for the 2023–2024 academic year indefinitely.
Adegbenro Adebanjo, the institution’s director of corporate communication, made a statement that included this information.
The announcement was released in the capital city of Ondo State, Akure, on Monday.
He said that the administration of the university had ordered a halt to the registration and fee payment processes for all returning students for the upcoming academic session, which were supposed to start on Monday through the university site.
Contrary to what is being circulated in the public domain, he claims that the University has not yet launched the gateway for returning students for the upcoming session.
The university’s spokesperson refuted reports that the administration had increased tuition, asserting that tuition was always free.
He said: “On the proposed new fees and charges, they are mainly for students-related services which are sourced from the economy.
“And the costs of such goods and services provided by the university for the students will certainly be impacted by costs of goods and services in the economy.
“To ensure smooth running of the university, certain consumables and payments for municipal services such as electricity, water, hostel maintenance and cleaning and sundry other services are necessary.
“And the costs of providing the services have shot up and the new charges are in response to this.
“Other costs that were adjusted as a result of economic reality include medical examination for all new students, biometric identity cards and Tertiary Institutions’ Students Health Insurance Programme, administered by NHIS for students and final year book.
“The management reiterates that tuition remains free for all students and that it has inbuilt mechanism within the system to look into and build consensus on matters affecting students including charges and fees.
“And that mechanism is working on this matter and consensus will be achieved”.
A peaceful protest was earlier organized by the university’s students, who claimed that the administration had raised tuition despite the nation’s economic difficulties.
Oluwasoromidayo Olayemi, the president of the FUTA Student Union Government, begged the school administration to reinstate the previous system of fees while speaking to the protesting students.
According to Olayemi, there wasn’t a tuition increase for up to a year before to the most recent one.
He declared that until the fees were returned, the nonviolent demonstration would go on.
