Ibadan Poly suspends Students’ Union, postpones exams over protest

The Management of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Monday, suspended the activities of Students’ Union, while also postponing the institution first-semester examination which was to commence on Monday, January 9, 2023.

This is coming on the heels of protest embarked upon by the students over increment in hostel refusal fee.

In a statement signed by the Registrar, Mrs Modupe Fawale, said that the examination had been postponed until further notice and the Students’ Union suspended indefinitely, while describing the protest as ill-motivated and politically inclined, adding that the students’ union body had not made a formal complaint to the Management regarding the examination slated to commence today.

The Management berated the students’ Union for breaching institution’s rule of decency by locking all the gates that lead to the Institution and thereby causing unwarranted hardship to their Colleagues, to the Staff of the Institution, to their host communities, to the neighbouring university of Ibadan, and to the general public at large, most especially those that have official transactions with The Polytechnic Ibadan.

The statement read in part, “It is on record that The Polytechnic, Ibadan students pay one of the lowest tuition fees among their contemporaries in the South-West. Payment of tuition has been made flexible and convenient as students pay 60 per cent of the tuition fee during the first semester and pay the remaining 40 per cent during second semester. The Institution has not increased tuition in the last couple of years.

“Protesting on a day that they should be sober and commence their examination which is a major academic activities leading to the award of their diploma is ill advised, politically motivated and therefore of no reasonable value to the students and indeed to the development of education.

“The Management is reviewing the situation and will issue a statement on when the suspended examination will commence. We appeal to the students to return to class and prepare for their examination. We also appeal to the parents and guardians to call their wards to order.”