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Anger in the land: Frustration, outrage as FG, private schools increase tuition fees amid hardship

Published

10 months ago

July 23, 2023

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While Nigerians are still trying to adjust to the present economic reality, the Federal Government and private school owners in some parts of the country, especially the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja and Lagos State have announced upward review of tuition fees.

The development has further worsened the frustration of Nigerians who have in the past few days lamented the unbearable hardship imposed on them owing to the removal of fuel subsidy.

The fuel subsidy removal which led to the astronomical hike in fuel price, has affected the price of other essential goods and services, including food items, transportation fare, and others.

Following the suspension of the subsidy payment announced by President Bola Tinubu on May 29, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, approved an upward review in the pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise known as petrol nationwide.

The adjustment moved the pump price from N194 to as high as N557 and above.

While the widespread anger, frustration and uproar continue across the country with Nigerians figuring out means to survive, the Federal Government on Friday announced an upward review of tuition fee of all Federal Government Colleges, FGCs, also known as federal unity colleges from ₦45,000 to ₦100,000.

The latest development was contained in a directive from the Office of the Director of Senior Secondary Education Department of the Federal Ministry of Education.

The directive, which bears the reference number ADF/120/DSSE/I, was dated 25th May 2023 and addressed to all principals of Federal Unity Colleges across the country.

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The circular titled, “Approved fees/charges for Federal Unity Colleges (1st Term) for new students,” signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, indicated that new students would be paying ₦100,000 instead of the previous ₦45,000.

A few hours after the report emerged, the management of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State also announced the upward review of fees for undergraduate students in the institution.

According to reports, students of the institution who previously paid N19,000 will now be paying over a hundred thousand Naira subsequently.

It was learnt that the management has fixed new fees at N190,250 for students studying medicine, while for courses that require laboratory and studio, students are to pay N140,250.

It was also observed that some school owners in the FCT and Lagos State, particularly primary and secondary schools informed parents and guardians to prepare for a significant rise in fees when the next academic session begins in September.

Although the Public Relations Officer, FCTA Education, Mr Kabir Musa told DAILY POST on Saturday that the FCT Administration has no plan to increase tuition fees in Abuja, some private school owners have notified parents of possible upward review.

According to him, “we in the FCT have no plan to add even a Kobo to what students have been paying”.

Asked on what the FCTA would do regarding how some of the private school owners exorbitantly fix fees in Abuja, Mr Kabir lamented that “there are limits to which we can regularise the private schools in the city”.

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Proprietor of His Covenant Secondary School, Bwari Area Council Abuja, Mr Raymond Onuwa said on Saturday that the removal of subsidy on petrol had hit the education sector hard, stressing that the effects would be felt more in the months ahead.

He revealed that the school management had on Friday informed parents that the current tuition fee was no longer feasible, citing the cost of maintenance.

“This fuel subsidy has affected almost everything. And that includes the education sector too. Prices of textbooks and other essential teaching materials have increased.

“Most of our teachers are saying that they will not return next term and it’s all because of money. Their salaries cannot sustain them anymore because the price of food stuff and even transportation have increased.

“So what do we do? We have to increase their take-home and that means we have to increase the tuition fee too. This is the issue that parents fail to understand,” he said.

One of the parents who identified herself as Mrs Janet Amuta, told our correspondent that the only option for her and the family “is to stop the children from schooling.”

“We have three children and they are all in this school. Since they started school, we have been paying N40,000 for each student.

“I’m hearing that they are about to increase it to N70,000. Where are we going to get that from? We have not even completed the fees for this term. We only made part payment.

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“My husband is a security guard and he works in town. How much is he bringing home that will pay over N200,000 every term considering his transportation and other things? This may be the end of the road for my children”, she lamented.

Also reacting, National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke said that the sudden move to increase tuition fee was not a new thing.

According to him, the recently passed Student Loan Act was to prepare ground for the fee increments, stating that the union foresaw it and had been kicking against it.

He said, “We have said this thing several times in the past. We said the signing of the Student Loan Bill will lead to an increase in fees. There is nothing new. It is just what we have been saying.

“The idea for the loan was to prepare the ground for them to increase school fees. That was why they signed the bill. This is what we have been fighting for since 2017.

“When we were fighting against this, the students and parents were busy abusing us, so now, we will watch them. If the things are agreeable to the parents and students, let them go ahead.”

Asked if the union would kick against universities increasing tuition fees, Profesor Osodeke simply asked, “if the parents and students say they are comfortable with it, why are we going to fight it?”

Related Topics:SUBSIDY REMOVAL TUITION FEE INCREASE

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Police dismiss inspector for ‘N29.8m theft’, demote three officers over ‘extortion’

Published

8 hours ago

May 17, 2024

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The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says Adabo Mohammed, an inspector, has been dismissed over alleged involvement in robbery and kidnapping in the federal capital territory (FCT).

In a statement on Friday, Muyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, said Mohammed and five others were members of an armed robbery gang allegedly responsible for the stealing of N29.8 million from a victim during a robbery operation in the Gwagwalada area of Abuja.

He added that the dismissed officer was also part of a gang that kidnapped one Ikechukwu Emmanuel Okafor, in the Tunga Maje area of Abuja and collected N4.4 million in ransom.

“The ex-officer has been charged to court accordingly,” Adejobi said.

Adejobi said Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police (IGP), also approved the demotion of three inspectors to the rank of sergeant over alleged extortion.

He identified the demoted officers as Osagie Efford, Semiu Agbekin, and Francis Ahuen, who were attached to the special tactical squad (STS) in the FCT.

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The police spokesperson said the officers intercepted an unregistered Mercedes Benz at the Gwarinpa area of the territory and “forced the occupants to part with the total sum of N29.4m.

“While the monies have been returned to the complainants, the officers were subjected to orderly room trial in line with extant laws, and have been demoted,” he said

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FULL LIST: NJC appoints Wike’s wife, CJN’s daughter-in-law, 84 others as new judges

Published

10 hours ago

May 17, 2024

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The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the appointment of 22 judges to the appeal court.

In a statement on Friday, Soji Oye, NJC’s director of information, announced that 86 judicial officers were recommended as judges for federal and state courts.

Oye said the recommended judicial officers will be sworn in after approvals from President Bola Tinubu and their respective state governors.

Among the judges recommended for elevation to the court of appeal is Nyesom-Wike Eberechi Suzzette, a judge at Rivers high court.

Suzzette is the wife of Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

Also, Ariwoola Oluwakemi Victoria, the daughter-in-law of Olukayode Ariwoola, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), was among those recommended as judges of the FCT high court.

FULL LIST

JUSTICES OF COURT OF APPEAL

1. Hon. Justice Kwahar Polycarp Terna

2. Hon. Justice Ruqayat Oremei Ayoola

3. Hon. Justice Eleojo Eneche

4. Hon. Justice Asma’u Akanbi-Yusuf

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5. Hon. Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman

6. Hon. Justice Abdu Dogo

7. Hon. Justice Fadawu Umaru

8. Hon. Justice Ishaq Mohammed Sani

9. Hon. Justice Zainab Bage Abubakar

10. Hon. Justice Abdulazeez M. Anka

11. Hon. Justice Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba

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12. Hon. Justice Nwoye Victoria Tochukwu

13. Hon. Justice Nwabunkeonye Onwosi

14. Hon. Justice Okorowo Donatus Uwaezuoke

15. Hon. Justice Ngozika Uwazurunonye Okaisabor

16. Hon. Justice Ntong Festus Ntong

17. Hon. Justice Nehizena Idemudia Afolabi

18. Hon. Justice Nyesom-Wike Eberechi Suzzette

19. Hon. Justice Lateef Babajide Lawal-Akapo

20. Hon. Justice Akinyemi Abiodun Azeem

21. Hon. Justice Oyewumi Oyejoju Oyebiola

22. Hon. Justice Olukayode Adegbola Adeniyi

JUDGES OF HIGH COURT, FCT ABUJA

1. Ademuyiwa Olakunle Oyeyipo

2. Bamodu Odunayo Olutomi

3. Anumaenwe Godwin Iheabunike

4. Odo Celestine Obinna

5. Hauwa Lawal Gummi

6. Abdurahman Usman

7. Buetnaan Mandy Bassi

8. Sarah Benjamin Inesu Avoh

9. Maryan Iye Yusuf

10. Ariwoola Oluwakemi Victoria

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11. Lesley Nkesi Belema Wike

12. Munirat Ibrahim Tanko

JUDGES OF IMO STATE HIGH COURT

1. Akowundu Cletus Ndubuisi

2. Uchenna Mary Njoku

3. Chibuogwu Ojiugo Chukwumaeze

4. Ononogbo Chidi Linus

5. Adaego Peace Nosiri

6. Emeka Ozoma Orafu

7. Mathew Chinedu Ijezie

JUDGES OF BAUCH STATE HIGH COURT

1. Amin Umar Ilelah

2. Aliyu Bin Idris

3. Ahmed Shuaibu Ningi

4. Shafa’u Ladan Yusuf

5. Abdussalam Idris Waziri

6. Kawu A. Yerima

JUDGES OF TARABA STATE HIGH COURT

1. Hamidu Audu

2. Bibonga Jeniffer Nauma

3. Joel Daniel Ubandoma

JUDGES OF LAGOS STATE HIGH COURT

1. Sunmonu Tunde Bashiru

2. Azeez Fimisola Augusta

3. Alebiosu Olawale Lawal

4. Adewale Russel Musiliu

5. Popoola Oluwatosin Ajose

6. Anjorin-Ajose Tanimola Abdulwaheed

7. Muyideen Abdul-Raheem Tejumade

8. George Alfred Akingbola

9. Balogun Adegboyega Ganiu

10. Shonubi Adenike Kudirat

11. Badejo-Okusanya Yewande Jokotola

12. Layinka Oyeladun Amope

13. Ojuromi Nalirat Olayinka Oluwatosin

JUDGES OF KOGI STATE HIGH COURT

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1. Ajesola Joseph Sunday

2. Ojoma Rachael Haruna

3. Kadiri Badama

4. Ezema Beatrice Ada

JUDGES OF JIGAWA STATE HIGH COURT

1. Mohammad El-Usman

2. Nilfa Abdullahi Gambo

KADIS OF SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, BAUCHI STATE

1. Ishaku Magaji

2. Abdurrahman Hassan Sabo

3. Bello Mohammed Sambowal

4. Muhyiddeen Mohammed

5. Mahmoud Idris Shehu Tiyin

KADIS OF SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, KOGI STATE

1. Muhammad Muhammad Bello

2. Okino Isah Saidu

3. Yakubu Adavenge Abbas

4. Shaibu Ridwan Aliyu

5. Idris Alhaji Abdullahi

KADI OF SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, JIGAWA STATE

1. Mukhtar Shuaibu Adam

JUDGES OF IMO STATE CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL

1. Everyman Ezenna Eleanya

2. Ofoha Sylvesta Uchenna

3. Ibeh Rosemond Oluchi

JUDGES OF CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, TARABA STATE

1. Esther Tata

2. Benjamin Samuila Bawage

JUDGE OF CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, KOGI STATE

1. Maryann Oziohu Otaru

News

AfDB to support Nigeria’s power sector reforms with $1bn loan

Published

15 hours ago

May 17, 2024

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The African Development Bank (AfDB) says it plans to support Nigeria’s power sector with a $1 billion policy-based operation (PBO) fund to boost electricity.

Policy-based lending provides countries with flexible, liquid funding to support policy reforms in a particular sector.

Kevin Kariuki, AfDB vice-president, power, energy, climate change and green growth complex, revealed the plans on May 16 at the Eight Africa Energy MarketPlace (AEMP) Forum in Abuja.

The theme of the forum is titled ‘Towards Nigeria’s Sustainable Energy Future: Policy, Regulation, and Investment – A Policy Dialogue for the National Integrated Electricity Policy and Strategic Implementation Plan (NIEP-SIP)’.

“We will be shortly seeking board approval for a $1 billion policy-based operation (PBO) with a significant energy component,” he said.

“This is aimed at supporting the ongoing power sector reforms triggered by the new Electricity Act.

“The timing of the AEMP and the proposed policy-based lending focused on the energy sector is, therefore, not coincidental.”

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Kariuki said AfDB will fund the policy recommendations to actualise the expected outcomes from the NIEP-SIP.

He said effective policies attract long-term investments and that an enabling environment maximises the value of existing investments, such as the $256.2 million Nigeria transmission expansion project (NTEP).

According to Kariuki, the project will include the construction of 500 kilometres (KM) of transmission lines and four substations with a capacity of over 1000 megavolt-amperes (MVA).

“And the $200 million Nigeria electrification project, which will build 150 mini-grids,” he said.

“Moreover, we are financing a study for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to explore the deployment of battery energy storage systems to enhance grid stability and facilitate greater uptake of renewable energy generation.

“Nigeria is part of our flagship $20 billion Desert to Power Initiative, which aims to generate 10,000 megawatts (MW) of solar power across 11 countries in the Sahel region to provide power to 250 million Africans.”

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According to Kariuki, this bodes well for increasing the proportion of renewable energy in Nigeria’s energy mix.

He said the multifaceted approach of supporting policy development, financing critical power sector infrastructure, and providing technical assistance and capacity building would be successful.

Kariuki expressed confidence that AfDB’s partnership with the federal government would create a viable and sustainable power sector that yields the desired result.