UNIJOS shut as students protest increase in levies

Students of the University of Jos on Monday morning paralysed activities at the Main Campus of the Institution, resulting in the shutting down of the school.
The students were protesting the refusal of the management of the institution to reverse the increase in levies.
The President of the Student Union Government, Abel Nok Du, said the students were protesting the increase in levies.
Du said: “We are calling for the removal of N10,000 development levy from our school fees payment.
“We are also calling for the reduction of N25,000 acceptance fees for admission.
“As I’m talking to you now, most of our properties have been destroyed as a result of us standing in the gap between the students and the school authorities.”
Du said the leadership of the SUG met with the school authority and resolved that the examinations for the semester should commence on Monday, but the students rejected the proposal.
They accused the leadership of the SUG of compromise and went on rampage, destroying their properties.
“In the Northern part of the country, the University of Jos students pay the highest development levy, including acceptance fees,” Du added.
Meanwhile the management of the University Jos has denied the increase of school charges and shifted the second semester examinations, which was slated forMonday (today), till next week Monday in order to address the issues raised by the students.
The Vice chancellor of the University, Prof. Hayward Mufuyai, while addressing newsmen in the wake of the protests in Jos, called on students to disregard the rumours being peddled that the management intends to review school charges.
Mufuyai said: “There is absolutely no plans by the University of Jos to review any school fees.
“If you hear any rumours around, then it is an evil rumour.
“We have not contemplated at anytime to review the school fees upward.
“Up till the last hours of Sunday, we were with the students.
“I told them there is no such plans and we agreed to start our exams today, but I’m surprised by this development.”
Mufuyai immediately announced the shifting of the examination by one week to allow the students understand the position of the school authority.
He disclosed the constitution of a management committee to look into the plight of the students and also dialogue on the way forward for the development of the institution.
He said: :”The issue the students raised on the development levy being charged by the institution is something I inherited three years ago when I became the VC.
“Nothing has been added new on the development fund, which they also called levy, since I came as the Vice Chancellor.”
Mufuyai said the position of the University is that there is never a time it will close its doors to dialogue with the students. Agency report