…AMACOS, NAOS scream extortion
Oluwatobi Odeyinka & Kafilat Taiwo
The Students Union Government of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta is under attack from students for charging N1100 as the union’s dues for the 2018 academic session.
Students across departments in the school decried the charge by the Owoiya Razak’s led administration, describing it as frivolous, illegal and extortive.
The students Union had on Monday released a statement, asking students to pay N700 for SUG fee; N200 for SMS alert; and N200 for insurance totaling N1,100.
Students have begun to lend their voices on the development with a popular view of extortion, with many expressing disappointment on the SUG.
A Mass Communication student, Kushoro Faruq said " this government is still the same as the other. I have not seen the 40 percent balance of my school fees, and SUG is telling me to pay N1,100.
“I don’t think such amount is reasonable considering the little time we have before the end of this session”.
Another student, simply identified as Kenneth accused the SUG of attempting to extort from students while suggesting that N700 from each student is enough for the executives to implement their plans.
He said, “to be sincere, the student Union needs our financial support but going extra mile to extort money from the same students who voted for them in name of Insurance and Alert fee is useless, and illegal.”
For Williams Maureen, a student of Accountancy, "the SUG fee is not okay by me, it should be reduced to the bearest minimum"
Meanwhile, the Association of Mass Communication Students (AMACOS) also frowned at the charge of N1100 by the SUG, suggesting that N700 would have been a reasonable amount.
The President of the Association, Comrade Oshoala Khaff described the charge as an act of extortion, while also accusing the SUG of not being concerned about the welfare of students as promised by the SUG President during campaign.
He said, “Under the Glorious administration, we paid the same amount although there is difference in the breakdown. I understand that the population has reduced but the fact is if you want to get finance from students, it is not by extorting them.
“If it were only the freshers that would pay that amount while the staylite would pay a lower amount, it would still be understandable. That N1100 at all levels is really appalling considering that final year students have projects and textbooks to worry about.”
Oshoala opined that the dues for insurance and SMS alert are unnecessary, saying that “the country is economically disturbed. Some of our students are struggling; some cannot even afford to get a textbook of N1100 not to talk of dues.”
“I believe the need for campus alert is zero. When there was no SUG on campus, the school has been living fine.
“If they are to truly consider students welfarism as they promised, they should omit SMS alert and insurance. I see nothing they are insurring in just 3 months to exam; they are insuring nothing.” He said.
Also, the Director of Socials, National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS), Comrade Lukman Adeola, urged the SUG to reduce the dues, especially for final year students.
His words, “So far so good, we have been paying lesser than that. I think there should be difference between HND1 and HND 2. N1100 is a reasonable amount; they have what they want to do, yet the SUG should bring it down for the HND2 students.
“We would meet with the SUG executives and make them see reasons why they must not peg it at N1100.”
I am highly disappointed in this student union administration as it portrays itself in the light of extortion of those they claim to represent. It is highly insensitive of campus welfarism to charge for insurance and SMS alert when most of us is struggling for 40% school fee balance, lecture kits, house rents amongst other expenses.