…Issues Ten-point Demand, Accuses State Govt. of Neglect, Abandonment

By Amaechi Agbo

Unless drastic actions are taken timely, the seemingly peaceful and unhitched academic progress experienced in the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) could be punctured as the student body in the university, Student Union Government (SUG) has threatened to shut down the institution unless the increase in fees by the management is rescinded.

The Student union made the threat on Saturday in a three-page circular after their General Congress on Friday where they gave ten conditions to the management or the university will be lockdown

The memo titled “Resolution of the General Assembly Held On Friday 9^th May 2025”, signed by the SUG President, Com Chiagozie Ezenwaji; the Senate President, Com Ezema Chukwuemeka and the Assistant Secretary, Com Nwafor Precious and made available to ESUT Monitor, also accused the management of the university of embezzling the development and sports fees which students have been paying without result.

The circular which was copied to the Governor of Enugu State, the Speaker of the State, the Attorney General of the state, the Vice Chancellor, Commissioner of Police, DSS and NANS, warned that none reversal of the fees hike will warrant a total lock down of the university   

The students also accused the management and State Government of neglect and abandonment

“After the general Assembly held on the 10th May 202S at the SUG secretariat comprising of All SUG Executives, SUG  Legislative, SUG Judiciary, SUG ministers and SSAL, Faculty Presidents, secretaries and EXCOS, Departmental presidents, secretaries and EXCOS, Hostel governors, Lodge Presidents, Class reps and Stakeholders,

“The students can barely feed due to high cost of living, transporting themselves to school due to high cost of transportation. Students can barely accommodate themselves due to increase in rent that the state government has continuously neglected.

“As a state university we are not different from those staying in the forest, no light for a state owned university and its environs. No single network in the university and environment. No water but yet (sic) the state government deemed it fit that fees be added first because they don’t care about the welfare of the students.

“We are the only state university in Nigeria paying development fees that nothing has been developed since the beginning of those payments. The state government has promised and failed countless times to construct park road yet development fees has been added despite the fact that nothing has been developed with the ones paid before now.,

“The students were promised WiFi yet nothing to show for it. ESUT students for years cannot go for night classes which is a culture in universities for academic excellence because of no single light connected to any faculty auditoriums for night class, no functioning generators, no network, no wifi for browsing yet we pay 50-300k for development fees.,

“The union has been neglected for years. No bus, no funding for the daily running of her activities,” part of the circular read.

The SUG then issued a ten-point demand and gave the management 48 hours ultimatum to rescind the increment face a shut down on Monday, May 12, 2025.

“The students union government therefore stands on the following:

“No more Deans and HOD fees illegally imposed on us since last year instead of the development fees or school fees to be used, we pay extra heavy fees to our Deans and HODs for running the faculties and departments.,

“No sports fee – UNN pay sports fee because they have stadiums, track lanes with well-equipped facilities for gymnastics but here we have nothing not even a proper football field yet every student pays 5000 naira.,

“No Single increase in developmental fees – We should be talking of scrapping the 50,000-300,000 fees that has developed nothing for years only embezzled yet it has been all added.,

“No municipal services fee because the environment has lacked proper maintenance for years now

“No property maintenance fees of 50,000 – What is property maintenance and developmental fees for if not just to wicked students and for embezzlement.

“Steady electricity connected to all faculty auditoriums and departments, steady electricity within and outside the campus

“Constant WiFi and network provision, Park road construction, Provision of a brand new students union Bus, and No single increment in school/development fees.

“If the above-mentioned is not scrapped out and a memo released from the University on or before Monday 12th May 2025, the union will be left with no option but to lock all faculties, school gates, hostels and shut down every academic activity and even protest until our rights to education is protected by the state government.,

“The union through this memo urges all students and general public to not lose hope and faith that we won’t stop until our rights are taken seriously. It is not a crime to be a Nigerian, no jobs, no employments yet we can’t get the least Education to go struggle for our futures,” the circular stated.

It could be recalled that ESUT Management via a memo on April 29 signed by the Registrar, Mr Ambrose Ugwu, announced upward adjustment in the tuition/development fees paid by the students with effect from 2025/2026 academic session.

Below is the full circular