The authorities of the University of Jos, UNIJOS, on Thursday approved payment of school fees in installments and a further reduction in school fees to assuage students following the controversies which have trailed the announcement of an increase in the school fees.
The university announced that two per cent of the amount payable by all students would be dedicated to assisting indigent students, with a promise that half of that will be channeled towards providing scholarships for indigent students and the other half utilized for the expansion of its work-study programme.
The announcement came a few days after its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tanko Ishaya had disclosed that the institution had crashed school fees.
He stated that the decision to reduce the fees followed a series of negotiations between UNIJOS authorities, students and other stakeholders.
The students had blocked roads leading to the campus in protest, following an increase in school fees and other services rendered by the institution.
The student protesters in a recorded video were mobilized by leaders of the Students Union Government of UNIJOS.
While calling for an urgent reversal of the hike in school fees and other services rendered by the institution, the students had said Nigerians were already going through a lot of hardship, hence the need for the authorities not to complicate the already bad situation with further fee increments.
“UNIJOS fees have been crashed from whatever had been published before. In fact, students of non-science courses will now be paying N105,000. The science students will be paying N135,000 and N140,000 for laboratories; so we have crashed significantly our charges.
“So in all, returning students will be paying N140,000; in fact, some are now to pay N135,000 in total, that is those that are laboratory-based. Those that are not laboratory-based are paying less. It is important that the information gets out there because of some negative media reportage”, Ishaya told The PUNCH earlier.
Two of the student leaders, the President and one nominee of the Hall Governors would serve as members of the Hostels Maintenance Committee that had been set up.
While students having spilled over with one semester are to pay only 50 per cent of the reviewed charges, UNIJOS also extended the deadline for the registration exercise by two weeks to October 8, 2023.
A memo from the office of the Vice Chancellor signed by the Senior Deputy Registrar, Information and Publications, Abdullahi Abdullahi sent to The PUNCH, said these were some of the key decisions reached after an interaction between the UNIJOS administration and representatives of the Students Union Government titled, “Revised undergraduate school charges and extension of payment deadline”.
The memo reads in parts: “This is to inform students of the University of Jos, parents and members of the public that the University administration has approved a further revision in the school charges structure payable by undergraduate students of the institution from the 2022/2023 academic session. The University administration approved a reduction in the charges following a meeting with the expanded SUG Executives of the University.
“In view of its commitment to carry all stakeholders along following the University’s earlier decision to review its school charges structure, the University administration has made additional concessions in response to its engagement with the Students representatives.
“Some of the key decisions resulting from the interaction between the University administration and the students’ representatives include the following:
“The main charges for returning students who are not offering GST courses have been reduced from N150,000.00 to N95,000.00, while N100,000.00 will be paid by returning students offering GST courses.
“Fresh students will now pay N130,000.00, down from the initial charge of N180,000.00. Laboratory/studio/workshop charges are now set at N25,000.00 for students who exclusively use these facilities down from N30,000.00.
“The University administration has also approved for instalment payments to be introduced as follows: All returning students not using laboratory/studio/workshop facilities and not offering GST courses are to pay N95,000.00 as the 1st instalment and N10,000.00 as the 2nd instalment.
“All returning students not using laboratory/studio/workshop facilities but who offer GST courses are to pay N100,000.00 as the 1st instalment and N10,000.00 as the 2nd instalment.
“All returning students without GST courses but who use laboratory/studio/workshop facilities are to pay N95,000.00 as the first instalment and N35,000.00 as the second instalment. All Returning Students who use laboratory/studio/workshop facilities and offer GST courses are to pay N100,000.00 as the first instalment and N35,000.00 as the second instalment”.
The memo added that new students not using laboratory/studio/workshop facilities but who offer GST courses were to pay N130,000.00 as the first instalment and N10,000.00 as the second instalment.
Also, new students who would use laboratory/studio/workshop facilities and who offer GST courses are to pay N130, 000.00 as the first instalment and N35, 000.00 as the second instalment.
Abdullahi said: “Similarly, two per cent of the amount payable by all students will be dedicated to assisting indigent students, with 50 per cent being channeled towards providing scholarships for indigent students and the other 50 per cent to be utilized for the expansion of the University’s work-study programme.
“Spilled-over students having one semester left to complete their studies will be required to pay only 50 per cent of the reviewed charges. The deadline for the registration exercise has been extended by a further two weeks. The new deadline is now October 8 2023.
“Two of the student leaders, the SUG President and one nominee of the Hall Governors, will serve as members of the Hostels Maintenance Committee”.
The UNIJOS authorities therefore advised all students and parents to take note of the revised charges and adhere to the new payment and registration guidelines, adding that first semester lectures for the 2022/2023 academic session have since commenced.
Abdullahi added that the University administration has approved the re-opening of the Naraguta, Zion and Postgraduate Hostels from Friday, September 22, 2023, for students interested in seeking accommodation on campus while Abuja and Village Hostels would remain closed until minor repairs were completed.
“The University of Jos remains focused on providing an excellent learning experience and supporting its Students in achieving their academic and career goals. The University administration is therefore, committed to being transparent and accountable in the management of the University’s resources as it continues to strengthen areas of common interest and deepen partnership with the Students and other stakeholders”, he emphasised.
