By Sabiu Abdullahi
Over 4,000 students from Kano State studying at the Federal University Dutse (FUD) in Jigawa State are facing a crisis as they are unable to afford the new tuition fees imposed by the university management.
The National Association of Kano State Students (NAKSS) revealed that the tuition fee increment, which raised the fees from N30,000 to N40,000 to a minimum of N100,000, has left thousands of students in a precarious situation.
During a peaceful protest at the university on Tuesday, affected students pleaded with the Kano State Government and their political representatives to help them pay their outstanding fees, allowing them to sit for the upcoming second-semester examination scheduled for next week.
The students’ union government spokesperson, Ibrahim Yunusa, stated that since the announcement of the 200 per cent school fee increment in January, many students and their parents have been struggling to meet the financial demands.
Yunusa commended the FUD management for permitting indigenous students to pay their fees in instalments, with N60,000 due in the first semester and the remaining N40,000 in the second semester.
However, he highlighted that, despite this concession, more than 40 per cent of the students have not been able to pay the remaining balance, putting them at risk of being dismissed from the university.
“We’ve been calling the attention of the Kano State government to come to our help and pay the school fees for us,” said Yunusa.
He also noted that letters were sent to the Kano State government. Although they received a reply directing them to the office of the Commissioner for Higher Education, no further action has been taken.
The deadline for registration is just six days away, and if the remaining fees are not paid, the affected students will automatically dismiss themselves from the school.
The students’ plight has drawn attention to the larger issue of affordable education and the challenges faced by students from low-income families.
Kano State Commissioner for Higher Education, Yusuf Kofar Mata, has not responded to calls and text messages seeking comments on the matter, leaving the students uncertain regarding their educational future.
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