By Ani Ruth and Edeh Chinaza

Enugu – The Vice-Chancellor, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, (ESUT), Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie has offered explanations on why the management of the university didn’t increase school fees in the current academic session.

Prior to the conclusion of the 2023/2024 academic year in August, rumours were rife that the management was considering upward review of the tuition fees paid by the students. The Vice-Chancellor, in an interview with this paper in August confirmed that considering economic realities in the country, the need to effect upward adjustment is necessary.

However, upon resumption of the new 2024/2025 academic session, the students and parents received the good news that there would be no increase in school fees.

The VC gave explanation on why the management did not toe this line despite the obvious factors supporting the adjustment.

Speaking at the 20^th Convocation Ceremony media briefing on Thursday November 14, Prof Okolie said that the intervention of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Barr Dr Peter Ndubisi Mbah ensured that the fees were not reviewed.

He noted that the Governor in his magnanimity said that with the harsh economic indicators in the country, increasing the school fees would cause the parents depression.

The Vice-Chancellor added that the Governor asked the management to continue to manage the resources at their disposal with the hope that the economic frontiers would improve.

“You are paying 124,900 as school fees, what will that do in this present Nigeria? What we are giving HoDs, Deans, Directors as token for fuel is not even enough for them to come here for two days, but we are sacrificing. Your school fees will take us to nowhere, every passing month we look for 240 million to augment salary.

“Now minimum wage has been added, we are expecting his Excellency for counterpart increment in the subvention. Students should be thanking the council and His Excellence for not increasing that. His Excellency said that the present economic challenges is deteriorating and adding even one naira will lead parents to depression. He said ‘let’s find a way to survive and leave increment for now’”, the VC said.

The Vice-Chancellor however added that the larger implication of not increasing the school fees at this points is that ESUT is losing in the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND)

The VC noted that while high-school-fees paying institutions are accessing their N250, 000, N300, 000, ESUT could only access N124, 900.

“However, the larger implication of our not increasing school fees is that ESUT is losing in the NELFUND. ESUT will lose because we didn’t increase our fees, other schools increased and they will be paid the mount indicated as their school fees. Some universities pay as high as N250, 000 or N300, 000. Of course, when they apply for NELFUND, they would be giving that amount. When our students apply for the same loan, they will be giving N124, 900.

“For me as the Vice-Chancellor there was urgent need to increase it but the visitor in his wisdom said that we should watch the direction Nigeria is going.”