By Salim Yunusa
Following the hike in school fees by the management the state owned Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), the Niger state House of Assembly has intervened in the crisis.
Raising a motion of urgent public importance, member representing Bida 2, Hon Mohammed Alhaji Haruna stated that the Governing Council of the school and the Management have increased school fees and other charges by 100 percent and called on the house to intervene.
The governing council and the Senate, he explained should be invited to appear before the house and state reasons for their action.
“It is the beginning of 2019/2020 session, returning students of Niger state origin paid N27500 while new ones paid N52, 500 as against the new rate brought in vide a circular dated the 3rd August 2021, where the returning students are expected to pay the sum of N67,925 and new students N129,675 for the 2020/2021 session,” the lawmaker said.
Comparing the two fees, Haruna stated that the governing council had approved 100 percent increment of all the fees to be paid by students at the time most families were struggling to feed themselves.
“As a result of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, every family in Niger State is affected economically one way or the other. If the house does nothing to address this crisis, most students will drop out of school which may increase criminality and it’s a route we don’t want to ever take.
“The management should appear and explain the rationale behind the recent increment,” he insisted.
The lawmaker also cited relevant sections in the constitution that had mandated governments at all levels to ensure every citizen has access to education as well as strive to eradicate all forms of illiteracy.
Consequently, the legislators resolved that the Senate, Governing Council and Management of IBBU should appear before the committee on Education and report back to the House in two weeks
