The Kogi State Government has defended the recent review of tuition fees across state-owned tertiary institutions, describing the adjustment as a executive policy designed to establish a uniform fee structure across state-owned universities.
The Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, and the Vice-Chancellor of Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, Prof. Salisu Ogbo Usman, provided the clarification on Tuesday while appearing before the Kogi State House of Assembly Committee on Education in Lokoja.
The legislative session, chaired by Hon. Idris Maikudi alongside committee members Hon. Bode Ogunmola and Hon. Abu Jibril, was convened to investigate a petition alleging arbitrary fee hikes at PAAU and the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja.
Speaking before the committee, Commissioner Jones stated that the fee adjustment was initiated through a multi-stakeholder government committee established under the state’s educational policy framework rather than by individual institutional heads.
He explained that the directive for fee harmonization was originally issued to PAAU in 2024 to bring the institution in line with other state-owned universities that had already implemented the standardized rates.
Corroborating the commissioner’s submission, Prof. Usman maintained that university management acted in compliance with executive directives, noting that PAAU’s tuition rates remain significantly lower than comparable state institutions in neighboring states such as Edo, Ekiti, Ondo, and Osun.
Prof. Usman highlighted ongoing state investments to sustain medical programs at PAAU and Prince Abubakar Audu University Teaching Hospital, while encouraging students to utilize the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). He disclosed that 4,032 PAAU students have been cleared to receive ₦562 million in tuition loans alongside monthly upkeep stipends of ₦20,000.
Addressing claims regarding Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, the Rector, Prof. Salihu Sanusi Avidime, denied any fee increase, stating that the institution had instead reduced student accommodation fees to ease financial strains on parents.
The House Committee cautioned members of the public against filing unsubstantiated petitions to the legislature, but requested additional administrative records from the Ministry of Education to complete its review.
Meanwhile, student leadership—led by NAKOSS National Chairman Comrade Isiaka Amoto and NANS President Adams Abdulrazaq—appealed to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to consider a downward review of the fees to lessen the economic impact on families.
