John Shiklam in Kaduna
Students of the Kaduna State University (KASU), have appealed to the State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, to grant them waivers on backlog of old tuition fees.
President of the Students Union Government (SUG) of the institution, Abubakar Abdullahi, made the call in a telephone interview with THISDAY in Kaduna.
Abdullahi, commended the governor for the recent reduction of tuition fees in state own tertiary institutions, saying the development was a great relief for students and parents.
Sani, had on August 21, 2023, announced the reduction in tuition fees in state owned tertiary institutions by 30 and 50 per cent, saying the downward review was in response to public outcry over the high fees.
The students’ union leader however said, despite the reduction, many students and their parents were under heavy burden as they would not be to settle the accumulated fees arising from the old tuition fees.
He appealed to the governor to intervene by waiving the debts or reduce it by 50 per cent.
Abdullahi said, “The students of Kaduna State University and other tertiary institutions in Kaduna state are very happy about the reduction in school fees by Governor Uba Sani.
“We are happy that the governor fulfilled the promised he made to students in Kaduna state. He promised that he will review school fees and scholarships.
“This is a big relief for the students and parents. But we are pleading for further intervention by the governor because the reality is that many students have not been able to settle the old tuition fees.
“Many of them could not even afford to make part payments for the old tuition fees, students are still having problems.
“These students are owing the school a lot due to the accumulation of the old fees which they could not afford to pay.
“If you add the tuition fee for the last session which is N150,000, depending on your faculty, and another N150,000 for the current session, you will see that the students are owing a lot of money and might even drop out of school at the end of the day.”
He noted that, “The essence of the down ward review is to avoid students dropping out of school.
“Even if they are allowed to complete their studies, they will not be issued with certificate until they pay all outstanding fees.
“We are calling on the governor to consider waiving it for them or grant them substantial discount so that they can be paying it in instalment.
“As I am talking to you, there are over 200 students who are in 200 level now but they don’t have matriculation numbers.
“They are still using JAMB number because they have not settle their tuition fees.
“What this means is that the school does not recognise them. It is only when you have registered by paying the specified fees that the school can give you the matriculation number.
“These students are facing a lot of challenges and threats of being thrown out of school. We are calling on the government to please look into this.”
