AAU, Acting VC Debunks Increase In School Fees
By Simeon OSAJIE
The Ag. Vice Chancellor, Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Ekpoma, Prof. Sonnie Adagbonyin today, Tuesday 19th September, 2023 said the Management and the Senate of the University have directed that there is no increment in the tuition fees of returning students.
In a press briefing in Benin City on the latest development in the Edo State owned varsity after series of protest by her students over alleged tuition fees hike, Adagbonyin said, “This is contrary to the news making the rounds that AAU has increased tuition fees for returning students to about 100%.”
He faulted reports in some quarters which alleged an increase in tuition fees by the institution’s Management, saying, “some reports even say 200% or 300%. We have taken time to produce for you the current chargeable fees in AAU as paid by both fresh students and returning students.
Speaking on the on-going Students’ Protests over the alleged hike in school fees, the Ag. Vice Chancellor said , “It is imperative for us to make public some facts as they relate to the ongoing protests in AAU.
According to him, “The erstwhile Student Union leaders currently leading protests against alleged hike in school fees, were part of the team that negotiated the ”add-on” fees they are now protesting against.
“When the then leadership threatened to shut the University gate because of some perceived issues, that of school fees was not even high up on the list of the issues. The only aspect of their agitation that is related to fees was the inclusion of returning (old) students in the Edo Health Insurance Scheme (EDOHIS).
“They claimed that they had reached an agreement with the Management of EDOHIS to exclude all returning students from 300L and above from the scheme.”
Going further, he added: “the students were informed that the agreement they spoke about would be implemented only if it was true and was officially communicated to the University Management. That communication has not reached us as we speak.
“Management’s position on EDOHIS Management’s position was predicated on the fact that the EDOHIS is a policy of the Edo State Government and is currently being implemented across all tertiary institutions in the state,” noting that “the decision to waive it or to determine its method of implementation for one institution could never be arbitrary.”
Continuing, the Ag. Vice-Chancellor said, “Let it be put on record that of all the tertiary institutions in Edo State enrolled in the EDOHIS policy, AAU students pay the least. Whereas other institutions pay N20,000, AAU students pay N16,000, the outcome of concessions graciously granted to our University on special appeal by this same University Management.”
Prof. Adagbonyin assures all law abiding students of the University that whatever concerns they may have will be adequately addressed.
“Management admonishes all students to always seek clarification and be well informed rather than engaging in acts that are detrimental to their wellbeing as students,” he said.
He stated that a lot of misinformation is in the air, and all must keep emotions aside and seek clarifications whenever in doubt. “Those seeking to have the correct information on the existing school fees regime in Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, should visit the website of the school,” he concluded.
