Students Protest: ‘We have not increase our fees in the last 10 years–VC insists

From Ene Asuquo,Calabar 

The Acting Vice  Chancellor of the University of Cross River, Francisca Bassey has debunked claims by some students of the institution that management increased school fees which is why they are protesting.

The vice Chancellor made the remarks  while reacting to the protest by some students of the institution over payment of fees.she maintained that the institution has not done any fee increment in the last ten years

The Vice Chancellor stressed that despite the hike in prices of goods and services in the country, fees  paid by students of the institution have remained unchanged.

In her words the VC said, “There is no increment, it’s a lie. Check across the board, what they are paying, indigenes who are the majority are paying about 70, 000 school fees since 10 years ago.

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“The fees which are less than 7,000 per month for indigent students, our charges are about 72 000 which is 6,600 per month.

“Look at the rate of inflation which is over 300%. Ten years ago, how much was fuel,  rice, ream of paper, ink, pen, diesel, so let’s face it, how much  was NEPA bill then and now, we have not increased our fees”.

 On the protest, Bassey averred  that management  of the institution had engaged the leadership  and they reached an agreement to commence payment and wondered why the students later reneged.

The VC stated  that within the last two months, the management of the institution  re-installed electricity at the students’ hotels, provided  water reticulation.

 “We  are facing accreditation and need to fix  the classrooms, all we are asking is just pay school fees.”. She stated.