Oyo APC Expresses Concern Over Increase in LAUTECH Tuition Fees

Oyo APC Expresses Concern Over Increase in LAUTECH Tuition Fees

By Fly Cable News

The All-Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has expressed concern over the recent hike in tuition fees at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, calling it an effort to make university education inaccessible to the masses who aspire to a better future for their children. The party reported that the management of the state-owned institution has announced another increase in tuition for both returning and new students ahead of the upcoming academic session.

Oyo APC pointed out that this increase follows a similar hike imposed by the state government less than a year ago. Olawale Sadare, the party’s publicity secretary, stated in a press release on Friday that this development raises concerns about the government’s commitment to education.

The party also challenged Governor Seyi Makinde to address allegations that he has delayed fulfilling the financial compensation agreement with the Osun State government, following the termination of their joint ownership of the institution four years ago.

The APC criticized the governor for what it described as an anti-poor stance, saying that the tuition hike reflects the government’s disregard for the future of poor students, whose only opportunity for higher education depends on affordable public university fees. The statement highlighted the financial burden on students and their families, with the tuition fees rising from N404,200 to N782,200 for non-indigenous students and from N316,700 to N694,700 for indigenous students, which the APC called a sign of insensitivity and hypocrisy.

The party emphasized the hardships faced by many families, particularly those already struggling with transportation and accommodation costs, made worse by the current economic climate. It criticized the government for turning public universities like LAUTECH into revenue-generating entities, enriching those in power at the expense of students and their families.