Students of various state-owned higher institutions in Kogi State are now preparing to confront the state government over the unreasonable and sudden increase in tuition fees across the board, without considering the economic realities in the state.
What started as a rumour at Kogi State Polytechnic, where the management decided to increase school fees from N50,000 to N90,000, has escalated to other schools, including Prince Abubakar Audu University, where accessing the portal now costs N6,000, not to mention the school fees.
A student wrote on her social media timeline, calling on the late governor, Prince Abubakar Audu: “Daddy, to open your school portal now costs ₦6,000.”
A Kogi-born student who cried out over the sudden change in the login process at Prince Abubakar Audu University has sparked concerns about the increased financial burden on students.
Many hopes have been dashed by the rash decisions of the state government to increase school fees without considering the high rate of poverty in the state.
A parent, Yakubu Sunday, who spoke to our correspondent in Lokoja, said the decision to hike school fees is highly insensitive and uncalled for, especially at a time when many parents are struggling to make ends meet due to the poor economy in the state.
Sunday, therefore, called on the Ministry of Education to reconsider the decision in light of the public outcry it has generated.
