Abosede Akinkunmi
The students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta have decided to take the bull by the horn by confronting the school management over the state of Students Union purse should the SU executive fail to take a drastic action.
The students who expressed displeasure at a meeting organized by Press Club MAPOLY to address the issues surrounding the payment of Students’ Union dues claimed they will not pay the proposed dues unless the management comes out to tackle the issues.
Earlier, the SU President, Comrade AbdulRasaq Owoiya had alleged the management of preventing them from knowing the exact amount in the SU account. He added that the management insisted it will not give them the details until the students pay the N1,100 SU dues for the current session.
While reacting to the claim by the SU President, some of the students expressed grievances over the dues. They claimed it is unbearable considering the present situation of the country.
The students also vowed to confront the management should the SU fail to act in their interests.
Some of the students hold that the SU dues should be reduced to N700, while some suggested the SU should work their projects around the money left in union account.
A mass communication student, Bankole Babatunde said, “the president is using emotional appeal and we are not buying because the money is too much and we are not going to pay.
“If they fail to do the needful, let us agitate for what is our right, we cannot continue to be deceived by this administration except they find a solution to the dues.”
Also, one of the students identified as Samson said, “Mr President, if you are preaching transparency, then act like a transparent person. Show us the budget, we also need to know the benefits of insurance and SMS alerts, hence, we are not paying and we will take it up with whoever is behind extortion of students.
Owoiya added that the union has no intention of extorting the students, but, the management has made it difficult for the administration to continue running without funds.
The SU president reiterated the commitment of the union in working for the progress of the institution and the interest of the students at large.
He said, “we had thought nobody would pay SU dues this session, but, reverse was the case when we discussed it with the school management.
“The management told us to generate money first before we can touch the money left by previous administrations. The management is trying to boycott us and as you know this administration is for the students.
“I will never sell of my students because I attained this position without any godfather and anything that affects the students affects me first”.
