The Kogi State House of Assembly has directed the management of Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, and Kogi State Polytechnic to immediately halt the implementation of the recent tuition fee increment.
The lawmakers also summoned the Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones, the Vice-Chancellor of PAAU, Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman, the Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, Professor Salihu Sanusi Avidime and other relevant officials to appear before the House.
The resolution followed sustained public outcry over the new fee structure at the state-owned tertiary institutions. Students and parents had protested what they described as a sharp increase, with some at PAAU claiming an 80 per cent rise in certain programmes, arguing that the charges were unaffordable under current economic conditions.
University management had earlier maintained that the figures were not a unilateral hike but the implementation of a uniform fee structure approved by the Kogi State Government for the three state-owned universities.
Lawmakers, however, insisted that the institutions must suspend further collection of the new fees pending proper consultation.
They directed the summoned officials to appear before the Assembly to explain the basis of the increment and to engage meaningfully with students, parents, and other stakeholders.
The development marks a significant legislative intervention in the weeks-long controversy that had already seen campus protests, a brief leadership standoff at the Students’ Union Government, and the subsequent reinstatement of the SUG President.
No official response has yet been issued by the university or polytechnic management on the Assembly’s directive.
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