UNICAL suspends fee hike after students’ protest

The University of Calabar (UNICAL) has directed that the new fees it introduced be put on hold until further notice.

The directive was conveyed in a statement by Gabriel Egbe, the university registrar, following a protest by students.

The management of UNICAL on Monday approved an adjustment in school fees after its emergency meeting on December 1.

The students, however, embarked on a protest that brought activities in the institution to a halt.

In the statement, Florence Obi, the university’s vice-chancellor, said the directive to put the new charges on hold was in reaction to the protest.

“The management of this institution is a listening administration,” the VC said.

“We want to assure the students as critical stakeholders that appropriate arrangements have been put in place through constructive engagements with the students to resolve the matter.

“The management, however, commends the students for the mature, reasonable and civilised manner exhibited towards resolving the matter.”

Following UNICAL’s reviewed charges, fresher students, returning students, and final-year students for non-science courses were expected to pay N111,000, N91,500 and N114,000, respectively.

They were also to pay N36,500, N21,500 and N21,500, respectively, as third-party dues.

Similarly, charges for the science courses were increased to N155,000, N125,000 and N148,000, respectively, for freshers, returning students, and final-year students.

This category of students was also to pay N38,500, N21,500 and N21,500, respectively, as third-party dues.

Before the adjustment, an average student paid N64,050 as a fresher, N52,050 in their final year, and N49,500 as a returnee.