17th December, 2014
Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
Ogun state government has debunked the allegation that the pronouncement of reduction in the tertiary institution fees in the state was a fluke, noting that, the reduction remains.
There has been rumour making rounds by students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) Ojere, Abeokuta that the state government has implemented the reduction since it made the announcement.
It would be recalled that the state government had in September 2014 announced the reduction of school fees for all tertiary institutions across the state, hinting that, education should be given utmost priority in the state.
But earlier this week, some students of MAPOLY took to the social media and castigated the state government for playing on their intelligence.
In response to the students claim, a statement was issued today by the state government and signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Students Affairs, Comrade Olusegun Clement, dismissing claims that the state government has rescinded its decision to reduce the school fees.
“Following the allegation against the state government by some of our dear students in Ogun state, I wish to state that the state government has since the announcement of the reduction in tuition fees, effected the payment in all our tertiary institutions and has ordered and mandated all the management of all tertiary institutions to do same as soon as the new session resume (2014/2015).
“I want to sincerely state that our government has been faithful with the reduction in tuition fees. The state government had at no time increased or added any amount to the earlier announced tuition fee reduction,” the statement said.
According to the statement ND 1 students for Science related courses are paying N62,300 while ND 2 were paying N49,800. That of HND 1 and HND were paying N71,000 and N58,800 respectively.
Those students who are in a non-science related courses were paying; ND 1-N57,300, ND 2 – N45,000, HND – N66,300 and HND – N53,800.
In the new reduction fees, the science related courses are now to be paying; ND 1- N55,000, ND 2 – N46,000, HND 1- N51,000 and HND – N46,000.
The non-science courses related will now henceforth be paying; ND – N51,000, ND 2 – N41,000, HND – N46,000 and HND – N41,000.
Olusegun disclosed that all the deduction will be paid by the state government to the school purse to boost their subvention.
He however urged the students to learn to channel their grievances to the right place, rather than engage in frivolous and campaign of calumny or using social media to express their views.
The governor’s aide charged them to let issues remain their position and shun sentiment in all ramifications. “I wish to urge us all to let issues remain and let us all solve it without sentiment, so as not to heat up the polity unnecessarily,” he pleaded.