Students of Tai Solarin University Of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, have staged a protest on the Benin-Ore expressway to express their discontent with the recent increase in tuition fees.

The protest, which occurred on Wednesday morning, aimed to push for a reduction in the newly hiked tuition.

The protesters disrupted traffic on the expressway and displayed placards bearing messages like ‘I am not into fraud, I cannot afford N180K,’ ‘Have mercy on our parents, we cannot afford N180k and above,’ ‘Say no to increment, TASUED Sorosoke, do not suffocate us,’ and ‘Should I go and steal to pay school fees?’, among others.

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The students had collectively decided to boycott the 2022/2023 second-semester examinations, scheduled for the same day, after their student union released a statement expressing their grievances.

The union president, Akinjetan Emmanuel, and spokesperson, Olarenwaju Olawale Daniel, released a statement, part of which read, “The union expresses the students’ deep pains regarding the recent school fee increment.

This sudden increment will cause significant hardship for many of us. The management has insisted on a 10 per cent reduction.

We want you to note that we did not agree to this. The meeting ended in deadlock, and it is so disappointing, but we would not let this setback discourage us.”

In response to the ongoing protests, the school management announced the end-of-session holiday for the 2022/2023 academic session, even as the second-semester examinations are still underway.

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A memo from the institution instructed all students to leave the campus immediately until the new academic session begins.

Parents were advised to recall their children back home for their safety.

TASUED students had earlier protested the increase in tuition fees, which rose from a range of N65,000 to N70,000 to a flat fee of N240,000, with additional fees for fresh students.