CDHR decries tuition fee increment, calls for reversal

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, Osun State chapter has decried the recent increment in tuition fees of the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree.

In a statement by Emmanuel Olowu, the state chairman, on Tuesday, Osun CDHR described the increase as a flagrant violation of the right of Nigerians to accessible and affordable education in an era of removal of fuel subsidy.

The group urged the state government to immediately reverse the school fees increment as it negates the electoral promises of Governor Ademola Adeleke to the good people of Osun State.

It said, “we would like the government to note that in case it fails to reverse the said criminal increment, we shall become of the view that one of the tasks your government gave Mr. Kehinde Alabi is to come and generate funds for you at the detriment of the promise you made to the electorate.

“Education is a basic human right, and any attempt to commercialize it runs counter to the principles of justice, equity, and societal progress.

“The timing of this tuition fee increment is particularly troubling, coming at a period when the nation is grappling with the removal of fuel subsidy.”

Earlier reported that the students of the institution and the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, disagreed with the Osun Poly management over the decision to increase the tuition fees.

But the school’s spokesperson, Tope Alabi, in defence of the tuition fees’ increment, told newsmen that it was the right thing to do as the old school fees regime was not tenable at the moment.

Alabi added that a meeting has been fixed between the school management and the various stakeholders in order to arrive at a middle ground.