NANS Protests over 300 Percent School Fees Increment in AAU

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Friday  protested over 300 percent school fees increase at the Edo State owned Ambrose Alli University, (AAU) Ekpoma.

The students’ national body, while at the premises of the  Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council demanded the reversal of the fees, the sack of the Special Intervention Team (SIT), which tenure is said to expire on the 24th of June,2023.  

They also demanded the sack of the  Acting Vice Chancellor of the University.Prof Sonnie Adagbonyin 

Speaking, NANS Vice President, Intercampus Affairs, Vanessa Egheahie, said the Edo State Government should revert to the old fees paid by the students before the new increment or  NANS would move it’s headquarters to AAU to enforce the reversal as students from poor parents cannot afford  to go to school with the new charges.

She said the new charges makes AAU the most expensive public university in Nigeria, as law students are expected to cough out N741,5000 as against N185,000; while Medical Science Students are to pay N638,000 as against N216 for new students.

“We are angry because the Edo State Government and the AAU Special Intervention Team (SIT) have increased the school fees for AAU students with over 360 percent. Those who have right to increase fee are those who have worked to improve the infrastructure in the school. 

“It is quite unfortunate that the state government has increased these fees making it impossible for poor people to go to school. What the management of the school is telling us is that before a salary earner in Edo State with just a child who wants to study law would have to work for 23 months before he can pay one level school fee for his child.

“It is not possible, remember that Edo is 78 percent a civil service state. How can children of traders, civil servants and other low income earners pay this kind of school fees. Edo State Government has told us that they have low education policy and they don’t care if we end on the street.” 

She also, maintained that the SIT, whose  tenure is to end on the 24th of June,2023 has failed in it’s responsibility of managing and helping the institution to source for fund, and should be sacked by the state government.

“The Special Intervention Team(SIT) has failed in it’s responsibility and we also have the Acting Vice Chancellor that is threatening students that if they cannot pay, they should look for universities that are cheap. We keep bragging that we are EdoBEST, this is Edo Nonsense. I want  to beg our parents not to pay any charges or dues come Monday. We demand the sack of the SIT and the Acting Vice Chancellor .” She said