Abia varsity reverses tuition hike after Ikpeazu’s intervention

The management of Abia State University (ABSU) has reversed its recent tuition hike for students of the institution.

The directive followed the intervention of Okezie Ikpeazu, the state governor, who frowned at the fee increase.

It is understood that the varsity’s management had increased the school fee by over 350 per cent.

Invoices of some fresh students of the varsity which surfaced online showed that some departments saw a dramatic increase in their fees from N122,00 to N500,000.

The fee hike, seen as outrageous, elicited intense backlash, with many students demanding its immediate reversal.

On Monday, the governor, in a statement by Onyebuchi Ememanka, his spokesperson, said the over 350 per cent increase is unacceptable considering the present economic realities in the country.

“The governor, while acknowledging that it is becoming increasingly challenging for the University to play its role under the current fiscal regime, added that the University Management must understand clearly that it must ensure that children of the poor in the State are given the opportunity to access tertiary education,” the statement reads.

Complying with the directive, the varsity, in a statement by Acho Elandu, its registrar, said students should continue paying the old tuition until when instructed otherwise.

“Following the directive of the executive governor of Abia state and visitor to Abia State University, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Ph.D., management of the university has cancelled the fee adjustment recently announced,” the statement reads.

“However, the university management will continue to engage critical stakeholders on the way forward and assures the Government, parents and the public that the university will continue to provide quality education at affordable fees.

“Fees paid by students of Abia State University remain the same, until otherwise stated. Please, be properly guided.”