By Ogalla Daniel
The Kogi State House of Assembly, has commenced investigation into the recent school fee review at Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, and Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, following complaints by students and parents over the financial implications of the new rates.
The investigation followed the appearance of the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, and the managements of the two institutions before the House Committee on Education and Public Petition.
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Speaking during the investigative hearing, the Chairman of the House Committee on Education and member representing Kogi-Koton Karfe State Constituency, Hon. Idris Maikudi, said the committee invited the relevant authorities after receiving a petition on the fee increase.
He explained that the institutions appeared before the committee with relevant documents, assuring that its findings would be presented to the House in line with the directive of the Speaker.
In his submission, the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, explained that the review of fees across the state’s tertiary institutions was a government policy carried out through a committee that considers relevant factors and prevailing circumstances.
He noted that a directive approving an upward review of fees at PAAU was issued in 2024, but its implementation was inconsistent, prompting the university management to implement the approved rates.
Jones, however, clarified that Kogi State Polytechnic had not increased its tuition fees, noting that its Rector had instead reduced accommodation charges by five thousand naira in response to the economic challenges facing students and their sponsors.
The Commissioner also dismissed suggestions that the state government introduced the fee review to take advantage of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), explaining that the government’s approval predated the emergence of the federal student loan initiative.
Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor of PAAU, Professor Ogbo Usman, said the university was implementing a government-approved fee structure applicable to the three state-owned universities.
He explained that concerns surrounding the fees were largely associated with specialised programmes, particularly medical and other health-related courses, which require substantial financial resources.
According to Professor Usman, 4,032 students of the institution had applied for NELFUND support, with 562 million, 6,800 naira approved for the beneficiaries.
On his part, the Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, Professor Senusi Avidime, denied any increase in tuition fees under his administration.
He said his administration had instead reduced accommodation fees by five thousand naira following complaints from parents, guardians and sponsors over the prevailing economic situation.
Meanwhile, the President of the National Association of Kogi State Students (NAKOSS), Comrade Isiaka Amoto, and the Chairman of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Adams Abdulrazaq, appealed to the state government to consider the economic challenges confronting students and their parents and explore ways of reducing the financial burden.
The committee is expected to submit its findings to the House for further consideration.
Recall that the Assembly had earlier directed the managements of PAAU and Kogi State Polytechnic, to suspend the recent fee increase and revert to the previous rates, while inviting the Commissioner for Education and the institutions’ managements to explain the rationale behind the review.
