ZHPO can confirm multiple additional and unexplained payments by freshmen during the freshmen registration exercise at the hall.
The concerned students, who are freshmen, were compelled by the hall executives to pay a sum of ₦4,500 instead of the ₦4,000 approved by the university authorities. The extra ₦500, according to various students, was justified by the student leaders as "transfer charges" when making a transfer and "freshers' welcome" for money paid in cash.
The Affected Students Lament
Most of the freshmen who responded to questions from Zikpress didn't know exactly what they were paying for or what the exact dues should be.
“We were asked to pay 4,500 as basic dues. It was 4,500 they collected from us. It was when I left that I learnt that the dues were supposed to be 4k. And that the 500 naira they collected from us was for a fresher welcome,” a freshman replied.
Another student said, "I paid 9,500. They told me I would pay 4,500 naira for hostel dues and 5,000 naira for a hall shirt, and they collected 500 naira for security purposes and if anyone bullies someone [the respondent] in school. Although I didn't want to pay because I didn't have any money, they just found some ways with their words. They didn't let me go out till I paid.”
Some of the concerned freshmen knew that the approved amount was 4,000 naira, but even these ones still went ahead and paid the additional unofficial charges included by the people they met at the registration point.
“When we lined up, they gave us numbers, and then we entered and paid either by cash or transfer. Then that's 4,000 naira, the basic dues, not hall dues. The hall dues are like 13k. We pay 500 for [chuckles] I've forgotten what the 500 naira was for. So everything in total was 4,500,” a freshman said.
Some sources have even alleged that the freshmen were compelled to pay for the shirts too.
"I paid 1,500 in additional charges— A Zik Hall Fresher"
Another student from the faculty of science revealed that he paid a total of 1,500 naira in additional charges. When asked if he was aware that the approved dues were 4,000, he said no.
According to him, he paid a total sum of 4,500 naira excluding the 5,000 naira for shirt. He further revealed that they (freshers) were told to pay an additional 1,000 naira as an "elders fee", bringing the total amount of unexplained extra charges he paid to ₦1,500.
This is not an isolated case. A further sum of ₦1,000 was reportedly collected from some students and remitted into another account with the name Ayomide Akinfenwa Fashina. While some of the students said the money was claimed to be for "hall elders", others were told it was a hall maintenance donation or, in case of emergencies, for example, crises arising from theft.
Lying By Omission
Some of the affected students have complained about the lack of transparency, disproportionate explanations and absence of any formal notice from the university that supports these extra charges, perhaps because they are not legal.
Since the new dues were approved by the University of Ibadan Students Representative Council, the student affairs division also released a memo to all halls, departments and faculties in which it stated that all basic dues must not exceed 4,000 naira.
"We are paying more than what the school authorised, and no receipts were given for these extra payments," one of the affected students, who chose to remain anonymous, lamented bitterly.
Given that most of these freshmen were not aware of what was or what was not acceptable, the executives in charge of collecting these dues are getting away with collecting more than they actually should.
Even when some students do know, they eventually find themselves paying. The funds transferred were paid into the newly sworn-in chairman of the hall, Daniel Sotomi’s, personal account.
"Who told you that?" — Zik Finance Minister, Samvic
When Zik Press reached out to the minister of finance, Samuel Victor, he demanded to know the source of the accusations.
"I'm busy at the moment. No one here is forcing anyone to pay for anything. You can come here to confirm yourself," Samvic responded via a WhatsApp text.
When asked what the additional 500 naira was for, he stopped responding.
It's nothing new
This comes barely days after the inauguration of the new Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall executive council, introducing preliminary concerns on the conduct and financial integrity of the new regime, especially in light of the newly increased basic dues approved by the students representative council.
Speaking to Zikpress on the matter, Michael, a recent graduate, revealed that it is not uncommon for freshmen to be asked to “drop something”, adding that it was a test of each student’s level of experience.
Stone wall of silence
As of the time of this report, the hall executives have not put out a definitive explanation for the incidents. Efforts to reach the Hall chair, Sotomi Daniel, the vice hall chair, and the information and propaganda minister have proved abortive. WhatsApp texts and calls from the press have not been replied to.
NAWA OOO!!!!!!
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