Academic activities at the Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, in the Mpat Enin Local Government Area of the state were halted on Monday for some hours following a peaceful demonstration by students over hike in school fees. PUNCH Metro gathered that the university recently announced an increase of more than 75 per cent increase in school fees for fresh students in the 2020/2021 academic year. They displayed placards with various inscriptions, some of which read, ‘NANS demands immediate reversal of school fees,’ “#OccupyAKSU’, ‘Mother of all protest,’ among others. “The country is going through serious economic hardship occasioned by COVID-19, and for the school authorities to come up with a hike in school fees at this time is very disappointing,” the source said. He noted that the students would resist every attempt to increase school fees.

Source: Punch July 13, 2021 00:07 UTC