They bore placards with various inscriptions such as “reduce the cost of texts books”; “allow us to do our medical and data capture”; “say no to corrupt stakeholders”; “say no to exam fees”; “break down our tuition fees” and others.
Chanting solidarity songs, the protesters moved from the school’s main gate to the institution’s administrative building, and departments, to the permanent site and terminated at the popular school tower.
They say the protest was also to express their displeasure over the continuous increment and incessant imposition of fees such as examination and ICT fees, and forceful sales of handouts to them, among others.
Addressing the students, the Secretary-General, of the National Association Of Nigeria Students, South East Zone, Comrade Cynthia Felix appealed for calm and expressed her resolve to ensure the students are not exploited.
She stated that examination fees are unlawful and demanded a fee schedule to know the need for the said exam fees.
“This is pure extortion and we demand the immediate withdrawal of the memo that introduced the fee.
“We also demand that all students be allowed to sit for their examinations,” she said.
For the Vice President, National Association of Polytechnic Students, South East, Chukwuebuka Umezula, the school management on 9th of April, 2024, released a memo informing students to pay an examination fee of N5000 on or before 12th April, 2024 before the commencement of the examination.
He condemned the short notice that fell on a public holiday and wondered the reason for an examination fee after they had paid their tuition fees.
Umezula wondered why the management would deny them taking their exams due to non-payment of examination fees.
Umezula states, “We have labored, struggled, and battled to pay tuition fees, medical fees, and ICT fees, among others and we are shocked over this new fee.
“The National Association of Polytechnic Students has written the school management over the memo but they refused to listen.
“We will continue the protest and boycott all examinations in the school until the management changes its decision.”
Some students who spoke to our correspondent, including Ifeanyi Ibekwe, Rose Omenyi, and Joyce Peters said their parents are struggling to pay their tuition fees and wondered about the motive behind the imposition of more fees on them and begged the Federal Ministry of Education to investigate and intervene.
Reacting to the development, the Acting Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. Chijioke Ibeziako said that the management is looking into the issue and will settle it internally.
