The Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEOS) has called on the State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, to reverse the newly increased tuition fees of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN) back to the old tuition fees in the interest of students and their parents and guardians.

The group also called on the three-man investigative panel headed by Professor of International Relations, Professor Solomon Akinboye set up by the Governing Council of the institution to investigate its Vice Chancellor, Professor Labode Popoola over an alleged mismanagement of N106.6 million to do the assignment without fear or favour by ensuring that anybody found culpable is dealt with according to the law.

The institution's Governing Council set up the investigative panel as a result of a petition dated October 18, 2017 and signed by the Chairman and Acting Secretary of the institution Non- Academic Staff Union (NASU), Comrade Isaiah Fayemi and Comrade Dada Kunmi respectively and forwarded to the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of UNIOSUN Governing Council, Mallam Yusuff Olaolu Ali, alleging that the Vice-Chancellor has been working round the clock to discredit, silence and cripple the union so as to get away with financial impropriety.

The group described the increment as anti-masses, stating that the new fees policy in the University shown the insensitivity of the Aregbesola government to the plight of the parents and guardians of the affected students who have been on half salaries in the state for over two years now.

In a statement issued by the CSCEOS’ Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi, Alimi Sulaiman on Wednesday, he urged concerned citizens and stakeholders in the state to resist the anti-masses policy of the Aregbesola administration.

Besides, the group called on the genuine members of organised labour and civil society organisations to wake up from their slumber by saying “No” to the new fees regime in UNIOSUN.

It also called on the affected parents and guardians to resist the new fees regime of the institution, insisting that the amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has made it clear that government at all level should ensure the citizens acquired education to the higher level, noting that education should be the right of every citizens and not a privilege.

It further stressed that the ongoing anti-people policy on education by Aregbesola’s government in the state has lead to the abysmal failure of students in academic performance in the national examination since the inception of this government. He also called on the Governor to retrace his steps on the new fees regime at the university.

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