Controversy Trails DELSU Fee Increment As Students React, Seek Egwunyega’s Removal As VC

Controversies have continued to trail the school fee increment at the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka as students of the institution expressed deep regrets over the appointment of Prof. Andy Egwunyega as the institution’s Vice-Chancellor.

The students who spoke to newsmen at the wake of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s directive to the institution management and Student Union Government to find a common grounds for the downward review of the fee, are asking for the removal of the VC for what they called his ‘wilful moves to set DELSU on the path of backwardness’.

They opined that the current Vice Chancellor was the worst in the 30-year history of the institution, as they ranked Egwunyega low in terms of suitability for appointment, poor policies and programmes, unstable academic calendar and insensitivity to students plight which, they added, was evident in ‘his obsession with school fees increase at the beginning of a new session’.

Pleading with Delta State Governor and visitor to the university, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to set machinery in motion for the removal of the VC, the students warned that the continual stay of Egwunyega as head of the institution will be detrimental to the progress of DELSU.

They said that prior to his appointment in December 2019, they had high hopes that he would consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor, but noted that he had made their studentship unbearable by increasing school fees beyond the reach of the children of the poor.

Speaking in separate interviews in Abraka and Oleh campuses over the weekend, they lamented that the past two and half years under Egwunyega’s watch had eroded some of the strides recorded by the past heads of the institution.

They questioned the rationale behind the increase in school fees for two consecutive academic sessions by the VC, accusing Egwunyega of a deliberate plot to block less privileged children from acquiring university education.

“It’s obvious Egwunyega does not want DELSU to offer affordable education to a large segment of the population. He was quoted to have advised those that cannot afford the new school fees to withdraw and do something else”, stated a final year student at Abraka campus that simply gave his name as Oghenekome.

A student of English & Literary Studies department who pleaded anonymity for fear of victimisation, said, “It’s sheer wickedness, for the VC had increased school fees twice since his assumption of duty in 2019 without improvement of infrastructure and enhancement of  students’ welfare on campus.

“Today, DELSU is worse than what it was in December 2019 when he came on board. The obvious indication is that the VC not only lacks administrative competence to run the university, but he is also bereft of empathy for the plight of the hapless students”

A 300 level student of DELSU in Oleh Campus, who craved anonymity, said; “The VC doesn’t mean well for us, let’s not be deceived. How can he increase school fees twice in two years? Is that how to run a university? Is school fees the only source of income to the university? DELSU has a printing press, a water factory, a poultry, DELSU Investment Limited and the likes. It’s wrong to see school fees as the institution’s sole revenue earner.”

Another 200 level student in the faculty of science, described the current VC’s handling of the university affairs as poor. She said, “ DELSU has become a shadow of its former self. We now operate one year academic calendar while students currently pay huge sums to collect certificates and transcripts, and pay money to drive cars within the campus. He has monetized running of the university as you now pay for virtually everything.

“DELSU is now a modified private university. The fees is same as what is obtainable in private universities. Egwunyenga has made university education unattractive. Do you know how many students dropped out because of their inability to afford the school fees?

In the same vein, a final year student in the faculty of the social sciences known as Ochuko, stated, “ Since he began his tenure as VC, things have actually deteriorated; infrastructure, academic activities, and management in general. It’s really bad.”

Also, a 300 level student in the faculty of education, said: “When you give responsibility to people that they cannot handle, the result can be devastating. What is happening in DELSU with regard to school fees increment under the leadership of Prof. Egwunyenga is leadership failure and that’s the bottom line.

A male law student at Oleh campus who’s better known for his pseudonym, said while it’s not out of place to effect an increase, it should not be as high as it obtains in DELSU.

“Can you imagine that the VC itemised DELSU Mobile App and DELSU Wifi subscription as separate items for which students pay N5,000 each. It’s even ridiculous that law students in DELSU now pay for laboratory as though we are in the pure sciences.

“Who knows what we might pay for next year. Perhaps, the VC may demand fee for laboratory coats from law students in 2022/2023 academic session. DELSU has indeed become an abode of comedy of errors”, the law student averred.

All efforts to get comments from the institution as of press time proved abortive.