Rights Group Demands Reversal Of Tuition Fees At ATBU

THE Education Rights Campaign (ERC) has condemned the recent increase in school fees by the authorities of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), for both fresh and returning students of the institution.

According to the decision of the 81st meeting of the Institution’s Governing Council, fresh students will now pay N44, 250, while returning students would pay N39, 520. Both represent over 100 percent increase. In the last academic session, fresh students paid N22, 500, while returning students paid N14, 500.

The ERC is demanding immediate reversal of the new school fees, with immediate effect. ERC claims that by hiking fees beyond the national minimum wage, which still stands at a pitiful N18, 000, the ATBU authorities want to exclude students from poor working class background from getting university education.

In a statement jointly signed by Hassan Taiwo Soweto and Michael Ogundele, National Coordinator and Secretary respectively, they noted that the previous increment of fees in the 2012/2013 academic session had no fundamental impact on teaching and learning conditions in the University.

“The learning environment remains deplorable. The institution still lacks access to modern libraries and laboratories, while water supply and other infrastructure are inadequate. Students still have no access to Internet and sporting facility, even though they pay for them.