Anayo Okoli
31 March 2009
THOUSANDS of students of Abia state University, Uturu, last week stormed Government House, Umuahia, to protest what they called "arbitrary and excessive" increase in their school fees by the university authorities.
Activities at the Government House were disrupted, as the students sought to have audience with the Governor, Chief Theodore Orji.
The students said the management of the university raised their fees by over 110%. According to them, students were paying between N26, 000 and N30, 000, which was raised to between N60,000 and N80, 000.
But the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa said the University's Governing Council decided to increase the fees in response to the global recession, so as to sustain the institution's existence.
The students, who were all dressed in black, blocked the busy Library road/Ibiam road that leads to the Government House, which caused major traffic jam.
The students said they could not understand the agenda of the university management, because according to them, they had already paid the fees for the session, before the new fees were introduced and the management want them to pay more to complete the new fees.
Displaying several placards which were critical of the university authorities, the students urged Governor Orji to order the immediate reversal to the old fees.
Addressing the students, Orji who said he is very interested in education, added that he would not like anything that would disrupt the flow of the academics calendar in the state.
He reminded the students that it was due to his love for education, that he approved free education at secondary and primary schools level, and that he had also increased the subvention to the university. He urged them to maintain peace while he hears from the institution's management.
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