Senate Stops UNIMAID From Raising School Fees, ‘Students May Join Insurgency’

Students of the University of Maiduguri (UNMAID) can now heave a sigh of relief after the Senate on Tuesday asked the authorities of the institution to stay action on the recent fees increment.

The senate committee on tertiary education was also mandated to liaise with the Nigerian Universities Commission with a view to working out an arrangement to streamline fees in all tertiary institutions.

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The senate directive was reached following a point of order raised by the Senator representing Borno North, Abubakar Kyari, who drew the attention of his colleagues to hike in the fees.

While noting that the increment of the fees from 40 percent to 400 percent could force youths out of the institution to join the insurgents thereby worsening the security situation in the country, Kyari cited the example of a particular fee which used to be N25, 000 but has now been increased to N125, 000.

He said the action could affect education in the North-East geopolitical zone.

He said ensuring that schools in the North-East were open without crisis was important to tackle insecurity especially in Borno State

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Recall that on October 23, students of the university were notified of a sharp increase in both school fees and hostel fees for New and Returning Students by the institution management.

The increment has also generated negative reaction from several groups and organisation, all condemning the action of the institution, including the Nigerian Youth Parliament, the chairman of the Borno civil society organization and some social media users.

UNIMAID is located in the capital city of Borno State in northeast Nigeria.

The university was created by the federal government of Nigeria in 1975, with the intention of it becoming one of the country’s principal higher-education institutions.

The university is the major higher institution of learning in the north-eastern part of the country.

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