The Osun Masterminds (TOM) has condemned the increase in tuition fees to ₦1.3 million in Osun-owned tertiary institutions, describing the move as unfair to students from low-income families across the state.
Speaking at the October State-of-the-State Address in Osogbo on Wednesday, the Executive Director of TOM, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, said the development could further deprive indigent students of access to higher education.
He said it was unacceptable for public institutions like the University of Ilesa and Osun State University to demand such exorbitant fees from students whose families are already struggling to survive economic hardship.
Prof. Oyedokun-Alli urged the Osun State Government to immediately intervene and regulate the tuition rates being charged by its institutions to make education accessible to all.
The group also expressed concern over the worsening state of the education sector, particularly the delay in recruiting new teachers into secondary schools across the state.
It lamented that several schools now operate with an inadequate number of teachers, leaving students ill-prepared for external examinations and future academic pursuits.
Prof. Oyedokun-Alli explained that the state government’s excuse of local government fund seizure as a reason for the stalled recruitment was untenable, as such funds are not used to pay secondary school teachers.
On the Akinlalu killings involving members of the Osun Amotekun Corps, Prof. Oyedokun-Alli described the incident as tragic and a reflection of government’s disregard for due process in appointments.
He called for a thorough investigation by the police and demanded that all officers involved in the killing be brought to justice without delay.
While commiserating with families affected by the Akinlalu incident, TOM called on the state to restore discipline and accountability within the Amotekun corps to protect its integrity.