DELSU VC Defies Okowa’s Directive Over School Fees

…SUG President Describes Okowa’s Directive As Political

By Anthony Arugba

As controversy continues to trail the school fee increment at the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, there are strong indications that the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Andy Egwunyenga is unwilling to negotiate with Students Union Government of the institution to reduce the fees.

Recall that last week Friday, the Delta State Governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, spoke on the increased school fees controversy at the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, with a directive to the management of the university to liaise with the students’ union to bring down the fees to acceptable levels.

However, the management of the university headed by Prof. Andy Egwunyenga has not taken any step to implement the governor’s directive, investigations have shown.

A source in the university hinged the Management’s reluctance on the VC’s reading of the governors directive as “a mere political statement that is not meant to be carried out.”

A top management source in the university, who pleaded anonymity said: “My brother, we are surprised that the VC could willfully flout the directive of the Visitor and governor of the state by not calling a meeting of the management and the SUG a week after.

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“And I can tell you that the governor cannot do anything against the vice-chancellor whom he knew was incompetent based on his colossal failure as former Rector of Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku.

Meanwhile, the DELSU Student Union Government President, Comrade Cyprian Odifili, has expressed regrets over the state government’s indifference to the students quest for reduction in school fees.

Odifili, who also disclosed that the SUG has not being contacted for any meeting, said it was an indication that whatever the governor said last Friday was merely political.

He said; “The government of Delta State should be true to what they said on paper. If they are being sincere in supporting our quest for reduction in the school fees, then they should make it effective, not through media or paper statement. We met with the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and the Chairman House Committee on Education, Hon. Charles Emetulu, with a view to achieving a reduction in the school fees knowing full well that the whole increment came from the state government.”

He added: “They never invited us for a meeting since the governor made the state neither was there any notice of meeting by the management.”

Efforts to reach the management of the university proved abortive as calls to the VC’s line didn’t connect. Similarly, a text message was sent to his line, but he didn’t respond to it as of the time of filing this report.

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Below is the text: “We have earlier called to get your reaction to the directive of the visitor and Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to DELSU Management to hold a meeting with the SUG leadership with a view to reducing the school fees to an acceptable level. So far, one week has rolled by and no meeting has been held. What is the management’s position?