No Plan to Reverse Fee Hike, Says Babangida Varsity

Miracle Chukwu in Abuja

The Vice Chancellor, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), Niger State, Prof. Abu Kasim, has said that a total reversal of the recent increase in the institution’s tuition fee may be impossible.

Following the upward review of the fee paid by students at the university’s 50th regular meeting, many of those affected by the increase had expressed dissatisfaction with the development.

THISDAY learnt that the over 100 per cent hike impacted non-indigenes who will henceforth pay N117,325 instead of the former N55,300 fee. Indigenes are expected to pay N67,925 in contrast to the N27,500 hitherto paid, while international students will cough out N266,760 forthwith.

Speaking in Minna, the VC stated that the hike was necessary in view of some circumstances facing the institution, adding that the hike was to sustain the growth of the university, provide quality learning as well as ramp up infrastructure.

He advised parents not to withdraw their children from the institution and charged them to make sacrifices to adjust to the new development.

On the call for part payment, he said: “We will go back to the drawing board and look at all the options available, whether, we can warrant it, we will look at it, if not, students will bear with us.

“We will go back as management and discuss with the council and other stakeholders, and also look at the scenario and appeal to them that it is a civil service and an agrarian state.

“And I am sure the governor will be compassionate enough to look at the complaint coming from the parents and probably reduce it. I will say reduce, not to say no, because I can see students are demanding for reversal.”

“And I am sure you don’t want us to reverse it, you want us to grow. By the time we reverse, we will reverse our growth, so, we need to increase so the university can grow,” he added.

He also said there was need to ensure that the institution does not collapse, adding that tuition fee is to enable the school build conducive classrooms and employ qualified lecturers.

Adamu assured stakeholders that the university management would discuss with others to look at the increase with a view to arriving at an equitable position for both the university authorities and students, noting that a reversal may be impossible at this point.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Aliyu Paiko, in his remarks, also stated that the school was in dire need of funding for development of infrastructure and completion of the senate building which has been abandoned since the inception of the institution in 2005.

He maintained that the state government was doing its best to fund the university, but was limited in view of its numerous competing responsibilities.