Gombe: Coalition of Students Protest Against Tuition Fees Hike

BY NAJIB SANI, GOMBE

Worried by the hike in tuition fees in Nigerian tertiary institutions, the Students Wing of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNGs) on Thursday staged a peaceful demonstration in the major streets of Gombe State.

The students said the recent fees charged by public universities in the country are too exorbitant asserting that the development will deny the children of low income earners access to university education.

Chairman action committee against tuition fees hike Ahmad Abdulgafar who led the protest said they were on the streets to register their dismay and dissatisfaction over what he called indiscriminate increase of school fees by the universities.

According to him, the increase in the tuition fees was coming at a time Nigerians were already grappling with economic hardship such as inflation in the price of essential commodities adding that the new tuition fees will further compound the situation for the poor.

“We find it regrettable that as a result of these poorly designed policies, hunger is stalking millions of homes, inflation is making life difficult by the day, people are losing jobs, businesses are closing down, infrastructure is decaying, young Nigerians are losing hope of being employed, hospitals are full of people who suffer various illnesses and cannot afford the fees.

“The Students Wing of the Coalition of Northern Groups is extremely worried that some insensitive authorities of northern Nigerian universities have already announced incredible increments in their tuition.

“Those in this category are:
University of Maiduguri in the northeast MBBS Students were paying N49,950, an increment of over 487% was made as they are to pay N243,000.

“Federal University Dutse in the Northwest Computer sciences Students were paying N61,000 but now they are to pay N181,000 with over 296% increment.

“Federal University Lafia in the Northcentral experienced a hike in departmental charges with the MBBS students are to pay close to N200,000 aside tuition fee and others”. He alleged.

The students opined that if the new school fees are not reviewed, it will lead to massive dropouts and return millions of youths to the streets appealing to the government to prevail on the universities to rescind the decision.