Delta govt slashes fees in varsity

Alphonsus Agborh, Asaba - 16.01.2008

Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has directed that all fees recently increased in the state university at Abraka be reduced immediately.

This was in the bid to douse the impending crisis occasioned by the hike. Dr. Uduaghan, who gave the directive at an unscheduled meeting with the Vice Chancellor, Professor John Enaohwo, also announced that the state government had released N500 million for the payment of outstanding bursary to students.

Consequently, acceptance fees, which was increased from N2,000 to N20,000 be reduced to N5,000, while the effective date should be next session.

According to the governor, of the N5,000, the state government would pay N2,000, while parents would pay N3,000, adding that any other increase already made should follow the same pattern of reduction.

While expressing dissatisfaction with the criteria used in increasing the fees in the institution, Dr. Uduaghan gave two weeks deadline to the state scholarship board to pay all outstanding bursary to students.

The governor said the welfare of students was paramount and that government would do everything possible to encourage them to achieve excellence.