Parents, VC differ on alleged tuition hike, nepotism at Lokoja federal varsity

A group, Concerned Parents of Federal University Lokoja, has cautioned the vice chancellor, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, against turning the institution to an “ethnic entity,” reminding him that he must address alleged rising tuition and nepotism.

Also, reacting to a statement credited to a group, The Mediators Forum, saying the “Call for Federal University Lokoja VC to be sacked” is reckless, representative of the parents, Alhaji usman Isezuo, said it was unfortunate that some persons, in the name of a ‘tribal association’, are defending Akinwumi even when they never participated in the agitation for an indigenous administrator.

He said: “What we are saying is that in the whole northern states, Akinwumi is the only VC that has come up with the idea of tuition increase

“For the avoidance of doubt, we are not saying that the institution can’t increase school fees, but what we are saying is that this increase of over 300 per cent is not only reckless to use that word, but insensitive and without any recourse to current economic realities in our country.

“If we may ask, who is Prof. Akinwumi trying to impress? He came and increased acceptance fee from N10,000 to N20,000 within his first few months in office, no one complained. Now, he wants to increase accommodation from N20,000 to N60,000 and tuition from N55,000 to N188,000 and he expects parents to keep quite. Did Prof. Miri act like this before the people revolted? Your ethnic group will not help you in this matter.  

“For those who do not have any child in FUL today, who are championing the said increase in school fee, posterity will not forgive you for sponsoring the drop out of any child when it happens.

“If tuition were kept out of the reach of poor people, would Prof. Akinwumi get to where he is today?”
Contacted, the VC denied sponsoring any ethnic group to hold forte for him, stating that he has other important issues to handle.

His words: “I do not believe in this ethnic thing. All my life, I have been friend to people from other tribes. My closest people in this university are not my tribal people.

“All I can say is that there is no document from the school to show that there is an increase in tuition as being alleged. If there is going to be any increase, the Senate of the university will meet and the board will approve. None of these has taken place.”