Students troop to the streets, block Gov’s office, Secretariat ever “Refusal fee”
There was great chaos in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital yesterday as hundreds of the state polytechnic students trooped out in protest against the mandatory payment of Hostel Refusal fee of N15,000 before they could pay their tuition fee.
The students during the protest locked up the State Secretariat and even barricaded the entrance into the governor’s office.
The students claimed that their refusal fee was recently increased to N15,000 from the initial sum of N5,000.
They wondered why they are mandated to pay N15,000 for refusing to live in the School hostel, noting that they also had to pay rent for off-campus accommodation.
They noted that school management charged N35,000 for hostel accommodation on campus.
The protest aborted the semester examination which had been scheduled to commence on Monday.
For many hours, the students remained at the entrance to the governor’s office as they rebuffed attempts by the state deputy governor, Mr Bayo Lawal to speak with them insisting that they would only speak with the state governor, Mr Seyi Makinde.
In view of the protest, the school management suspended the Students’ Union of the institution and postponed the first-semester examination meant to commence on Monday, but the suspension didn’t last long as it was lifted few hours later.
In a statement signed by its registrar, Mrs ModupeTheresa Fawale, the school management disclosed that the reversal of the decision was based on interventions to allow for further consultations.
According to the statement, the management had decided not to use the big stick on the students as they have also sheathed their sword.
It added that the management would be holding meetings with the leadership of the student body to address their perceived grievances.
It also stated that the first semester examination scheduled to commence today however remained postponed, while a new date for the commencement of the examination will be announced to the students through appropriate channels.”
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JUST IN; President Tinubu signs N54.99trn 2025 budget into law
President Bola Tinubu on Friday signed the N54.99 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill into law at the State House, Abuja.
The bill, which was passed by the National Assembly on Feb. 13, after increasing it from the initial N49.7 trillion submitted by President Tinubu, was signed in a brief ceremony in the President’s office.
The 2025 Appropriation Act represents a 99.96 per cent increase from the 2024 Budget of N27.5 trillion.
The 2025 budget has a total expenditure component of ₦54.99 trillion, statutory transfers of ₦3.65 trillion and recurrent (Non-Debt) expenditure of ₦13.64 trillion.
The capital expenditure component is ₦23.96 trillion, debt servicing of ₦14.32 trillion and deficit-to-GDP Ratio of 1.52 per cent.
Sen. Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate and other leaders of the National Assembly witnessed the signing of the budget. (NAN)
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Teenage Girl arraigned for allegedly drugging, stealing Boyfriend’s N4 million
An 18-year-old girl, Rukayat Ashiru, on Friday appeared before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing N4 million cash belonging to her boyfriend.
The defendant is standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing, to which she pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, PC Olapeju Durodola, told the court that the defendant and others now at large committed the offences on Nov. 30, 2024, at Mufu Lanihun, at Yidi Agugu in Ibadan.
She said that the defendant allegedly
added a substance to her boyfriend’s drink, one Waris Olamilekan, to make him lose consciousness.
According to her, the defendant stole the money after adding the substance in the complainant’s drink.
Durodola said the offences contravened Sections 390(9) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olabisi Ogunkanmi, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum.
Ogunkanmi said one of the sureties must be a property owner within the court’s jurisdiction, while the second surety must be a blood relation to the defendant.
She, thereafter, adjourned the matter until May 26 for hearing.(NAN)
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Supreme Court nullifies Rivers Local Govt elections conducted by Gov Fubara
Supreme Court nullifies Rivers Local Govt elections conducted by Gov Fubara
The Supreme Court on Friday, nullified the Local Government election in Rivers, which was conducted on Oct. 5, 2024.
A five-member panel of the apex court unanimously held that the election was conducted in violation of relevant laws.
Justice Jamilu Tukur, in the lead judgment, agreed with the appellant, the All Progressives Congress (APC), that conditions precedent were not complied with before the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) held the election.
Justice Tukur held that there was no evidence that the voters’ registration continued until 90 days before the election and that the requisite notices were issued as required by law.(NAN)
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