Kogi govt defends PAAU tuition fee review before Assembly

The Kogi State Government has defended the recent review of tuition fees in its state-owned tertiary institutions. Officials described the exercise as a government policy to harmonise charges across state-owned universities. The Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, and the Vice-Chancellor of Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, Prof. Salisu Ogbo Usman, gave this explanation before the Kogi State House of Assembly Committee on Education. They appeared to address a petition alleging an increase in school fees at PAAU and Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja. The committee was chaired by Alhaji Idris Maikudi, with Hon. Bode Ogunmola and Hon. Abu Jibril present as members.

Jones stated that the review was not an arbitrary decision by individual schools. He explained that the government constitutes a committee to accommodate different interests when adjustments become necessary. A directive conveying the government decision on the fee review was sent to PAAU in 2024 but was not fully implemented at the time. According to him, the present implementation establishes a uniform fee structure across state-owned universities. Other institutions have already complied with the policy.

Prof. Usman said the university management only implemented the government directive. He did not independently initiate an increase in tuition fees. He expressed sympathy for students and parents over financial challenges, noting his own humble background. He maintained that he must operate within the framework of existing laws and government policies. Prof. Usman argued that tuition fees in Kogi State universities remain lower than those charged in Edo, Ekiti, Ondo and Osun states, where students studying Medicine and Law pay considerably higher amounts.

The Vice-Chancellor highlighted government efforts to strengthen medical education. He recalled that the PAAU Medical Sciences programme collapsed in 2012, forcing affected students to transfer to Ebonyi and Kaduna states. He said the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo provided structures to sustain medical training in two state-owned universities. Prof. Usman encouraged students to use the Nigerian Education Loan Fund. He disclosed that 4,032 PAAU students were approved for the scheme, with N562 million cleared for payment, while applications from another 600 students were being processed. Beneficiaries of the scheme are also entitled to a monthly upkeep allowance of N20,000.

Addressing the allegation against Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, the Rector, Prof. Salihu Sanusi Avidime, said he was unaware of any petition. He insisted his administration had not increased school charges. Accommodation fees were reduced following complaints from parents. The Commissioner for Education supported the Rector, describing the inclusion of the Polytechnic in the petition as strange. The House Committee cautioned individuals against submitting petitions without being available to substantiate the allegations. The lawmakers observed that the practice wasted legislative time. The committee requested additional documents to conduct a comprehensive examination of the issues raised, assuring that the petition would be treated according to legislative procedures.

The National Chairman of the National Association of Kogi State Students, Comrade Isiaka Amoto, and the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Adams Abdulrazaq, appealed to the lawmakers. They asked the lawmakers to prevail on Governor Ododo to reconsider the fees. They urged the governor to consider a slight reduction to ease the financial burden on students and their parents.