The Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Branch, has condemned the newly introduced N10,000 hostel extension fee for students intending to stay on campus during the break period.
The group described the move as “exploitative, inconsiderate, and unjustifiable,” calling for its immediate reversal by the university management.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the group criticized the directive from the University authorities, which mandates all students to vacate their halls of residence by Sunday, September 7, 2025.
According to the release, only students willing to pay an additional N10,000 fee will be allowed to extend their stay, despite having already spent over N50,000 for accommodation during the just-concluded session.
“This is unacceptable,” the ERC stated. “The affected students are not tourists or squatters; they are those with legitimate academic engagements, such as final-year project work, compulsory teaching practice, health sciences clinical training, and other school-recognized academic programs.”
The fee announcement, which came via a release from the Office of the Vice Dean of Student Affairs, noted that students with valid academic reasons could apply for extension, provided they pay the extension fee.
The announcement sparked outrage among students and rights groups, especially in light of recent security concerns surrounding off-campus accommodation in the Ile-Ife area.
The ERC accused the university of prioritizing revenue generation over the welfare and safety of its students.
The group argued that many had initially believed the directive to vacate the halls was to allow for renovations, given the deteriorating condition of the university hostels.
However, the group said it has become clear that the primary goal is revenue extraction.
“This is not just an act of financial exploitation; it is also a deliberate disregard for the precarious situation students face off-campus,” the statement continued.
“In the face of growing insecurity, the university should be encouraging students to stay in the safer campus environment, not punishing them financially for doing so.”
The ERC urged the OAU Students’ Union to take immediate action to resist the policy and defend the rights of students.
“The protection of student interests is a core responsibility of the union. This situation calls for urgent intervention, not silence,” the ERC charged.
The group also encouraged students to organize and resist all forms of anti-student policies, adding that the issue should open broader discussions with university authorities on student welfare and democratic rights.
