Date: 2016-09-19

PARENTS of students of the Federal Government College, Ilorin, have staged a peaceful protest over what they described as exorbitant increase in school fees.

Tribune Online gathered that the parents on Sunday, staged the parents, which lasted hours at the school gate located along Okoolowo road in Ilorin. The parents, who said they came from various parts of the state and beyond, carried placards with inscription condemning the new fees.

The placards carried by the parents included "N12,000 payment for textbooks must be abolished", "payment of issuance fee is illegal", "payment of N15,000 by returning to SSS1 for uniform is illegal" among others.

Security operatives in mufti and uniforms were however stationed at the school gate to maintain law and order.

Students of the college were expected to resume on Sunday as the school commences another academic session.

Some students were unable to resume due to failure of their parents to meet increase of school fee.

One of the parents, Mr Funsho Atoyebi, and others who pleaded anonymity noted with serious concern that the college school fee had increased with over 100 per cent. They added that the meal fee had also been increased from N7,000 to N15,000 under the guise that foodstuff prices had increased.

The concerned parents however expressed worry that the meal subsidy of N3,000 being paid by each parent still remained despite increase in feeding fee. Efforts to speak with the principal of school, Mrs Rita Okpaleke, proved futile as she refused to speak with journalists.