Nelson A.Osuala[5 October 2016]
It is no exaggeration that the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, who promised the good people of the state, what we can describe as a Heaven on earth experience in the educational sector, seems to have recently chewed back his words.
It is disheartening to know that a Government that had prior to the time of its election into office promised her indigenes, free education can no longer hold truth to her words, as it seems as though the free education' thus promised by Chief Rochas Okorocha administration have reached what we may describe as “a dead end!”.
This is premised upon a 'the reintroduction of varying fees and charges by the Imo State University management'.
Laying credence to available information from Vanguard which suggests that currently, the “ancillary fees” payable by the students have been divided into those of indigenes and non-indigenes respectively.
An excerpt from the University's circular as published in Vanguard reads:
“Non-indigene students are hereby reminded once more that Imo State University, IMSU, Owerri, Governing Council, approved the understated school fees for non-indigene students, effective 2015/2016 session.
“The fees are: Faculty of Medicine N190,000, Faculty of Law and Engineering N180,000, and indigenes N20,000.”
Furthermore, the University's management informs that “payment of these fees is, in addition to the payment of the Ancillary Fees of N19,500”
And that the students must as a matter of fact “pay up without further delay, as defaulters will pay extra N5,000, and will not be allowed to sit for their semester examination, which has started.”
Consequently “failure to comply will result in such examinations being forfeited.”
When our correspondence contacted a functionary of the institution, who claimed anonymity, he reaffirmed that,
“The payment of the Ancillary Fee of N19,500 cuts across board. This fee covers identity cards, medicals and other necessities,”
He also confirmed the payment of a minimum fee of N150,000 for non-indigenes.
“This development is sequel to the observable non-reciprocal gesture by other state governments to Imo indigenes studying in their state tertiary institutions”.
The students who were nonplussed about the recent developments in the institution became embittered, questioning the rationale behind the action as others were left wondering if the present recession have also led to a compromise from the part of the state Government.
Nelson A.Osuala
Is a Blogger & the Associate Editor of Negroidhaven.org