COVID-19 Levy: UPU Youthwing Appeals To DELSU Management To Suspend Payment

President, Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, Youthwing, Worldwide, Comrade Kelly Efemena Umukoro, has appealed to the management of Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, to suspend the payment of N5, 000 COVID-19 by students of the institution.

Oasis Magazine (OM) had reported that the management recently directed all undergraduates to pay N5, 000 as COVID-19 to assist the institution to raise money to purchase equipment necessary to stop the spread of the pandemic as students return to campus.

He continued: “I have been receiving calls from other sister organization such as NADDSETU, NANS and even the SUG president of DELSU over the COVID-19 #5,000 fee that was introduced by the institution.”

Furthermore, he asked the leaders of the different umbrella bodies of students in the state to shun their planned protests.

His words: “I want to appeal to NADDESTU, NANS and National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) to keep calm. As a senior brother and sister youth organization I have been able to speak to the school authority and I have spoken to the SUG president and I believe we should apply the 3Cs of Comradeship which is Consultation, Consolidation and Confrontation.

Why condemning the fee in all ramifications, he said the demand from the students was at the wrong time.

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He added: “At this point in time, after the COVID-19 lockdown many of our people had their businesses forced to close. Parents are running around looking for money to send their wards back to school to pay house rents.

“As an ethnic president in my own capacity to give back to the community, I am sending a message to students who are tenants in my properties that I am giving them six months free palliatives not to pay house rent because I was once a student and I understand how it feels for parents to rally round to get money to renew house rent, stock the kitchen of their wards and all that.

“So I want the school authority and the state government to see how we can give palliatives to the youths and not compelling their parents to start paying levy.

“I also want to tell NADDESTU that they should please cancel their planned protest in Abraka because of the security situation in Abraka.

“There is a cult clash in Abraka; a police man was attacked in Abraka and as leaders we have not rested. We are running round to ensure that we can curtail these our youths. It’s not the right time. I understand that they went to Asaba for a meeting. But I’ve discussed with the security agents in Abraka. It’s not about force, it’s not all about ego. When they are back from Asaba. We are going to have an indoor meeting where all parties will sit down then we can harmonise this issue.”

Furthermore, he said “the university management should let the government know that it’s a wrong timing; nobody has money now and I appeal to the VC of Delta State University, who is a father to kindly for the now suspend the fee while we give room for negotiation.”