AAUA School Fees Hike Case Adjourned To May 18

The suit against Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State over increment of tuition fee has been adjourned to 18th May, 2020 for Judgement 

In 2018, the Governing Council of the University had implemented the increment of undergraduate tuition to N150,000 for 100 and 200 levels across the Faculties of Law, Social and Management Sciences, Science and Agriculture. The tuition for 300, 400 and 500 levels in these Faculties were then pegged at N100,000 for 300 and 400 levels and N70,000 for 500 level respectively. In the case of four year courses, the fee for 400 level was pegged at N70,000. The tuition fees for the Faculty of Arts was N100,000 for 100 and 200 levels while the fees for 300 and 400 levels were pegged at N80,000 and N70,000 respectively.

Upon commencement of the 2018/19 academic session, the University implemented a subtle increment by directing all students to pay the fees for their last level, in effect, directing an increment of fees for the new levels especially for 300 to 500 levels who would ordinarily have paid a lesser tuition.

The subtle increment was greeted by protests from the students of the University.

In challenging the increment, three legal practitioners: Vincent Adodo , Joshua Sebiotimo, and Myson Nejo filed a fundamental rights enforcement application in suit No: AK/49M/2019, before the High Court of Ondo State sitting in Akure presided over by Hon. Justice B.F. Adeyeye. The respondents to the suit are the Governing Council of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Vice Chancellor of the University, Governor of Ondo State and Attorney General of Ondo State.

The applicants, who are indigenes of Ondo State, are challenging the tuition fee increment on the ground that the fees being outrageous infringe on the right to life, freedom of expression and right to freedom from discrimination guaranteed by sections 33, 39 and 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) and the right to education guaranteed by section 10 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A9 Laws of the Federation 2004.

The applicants are seeking several declaratory reliefs including a declaration that the outrageous fees are a violation of the right to freedom from discrimination and the right to education. The applicants are also seeking an order of the Honourable Court directing the Respondents to revert to the Schedule of fees for the 2017/2018 session. The applicants also seek an order of the Court directing the Governor of Ondo State who is the 3rd respondent to forward a bill to the Ondo State House of Assembly for the establishment of a Tertiary Trust Fund for indigent students of Ondo State Origin schooling in tertiary institutions in the State.

At the hearing of the application on the 26th of February 2020, Counsel to the Applicants, Akinware Olanrewaju moved the application and drew the Court's attention to the Applicants' responses to the Preliminary Objections filed by the Respondents and urged the Court to grant the reliefs sought by the applicants.

The respondents who had earlier moved their Preliminary Objections adopted their Counter Affidavits and Written Addresses to the Application and urged the Court to dismiss the suit.

After hearing arguments of counsel, the Court adjourned the suit to the 18th day of May 2020 for delivery of judgment.