While the various governments – Federal and State – are dragging their feet on what to do for the citizens to ameliorate their sufferings following the removal of subsidy on premium motor spirit, PMS or petrol, some agencies and private organizations have been consulting and putting in place measures that will help reduce the burdens on their staff
One of such organizations is Bayero University, Kano which recently increased school fees as their other counterparts also did.
The university authorities said in Kano that it was rolling out some palliative measures in view of the current difficulties faced in the country as a result of fuel price hike that resulted in an incessant rise in the prices for food and services.
BUK Vice Chancellor, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas announced the measures during the University’s 56th Congregation Meeting yesterday, Saturday, 22nd July, 2023 at which many staff members were present.
One of the measures is the allocation of funds to the University Cooperatives Committee to purchase foodstuff and distribute to staff on a non-interest basis and payable in 6 months.
Arrangement has also been concluded with the BUK Microfinance Bank to provide non-interest loans to staff to pay school fees of their children, for which the university will take the burden of interest, in order to cushion the effect of increment of registration fees.
Staff can in addition access soft loans at any time and it will be revolving so that staff who face financial challenges can have money at any time they want.
Other palliatives:
- Arrangement with the Kano State government to provided buses that will transport students from specified destinations to the university campuses and take them back at affordable rates. Once finalised, Kanawa buses would start passing through the routes of BUK campuses.
- The university is negotiating to purchase bicycles to help junior staff to cushion the effect of hike in transportation fare. Currently, many staff are trekking from the Old Campus to the New Campus, a distance of almost 10 kilometres.
- Waiving of 8 months house rent to staff occupying the university’s houses. Those who have paid during this period would have their money refunded.
- Vehicles would be allocated to transport staff to and from the university. Specific times would be allotted for staff.
Many universities have recently announced increase in fees and fears are that some of the students who currently on holidays may not be able to return to their campuses if they do not have money to pay the new fees.
For instance, the management of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State has reportedly increased fees for undergraduate students in the institution.
A statement by the Registrar, Mr. Oladejo Azeez listed two fee regimes – one titled Mandatory Charges for New Undergraduate Students in the 2023/2024 Academic Session and the other, Mandatory Charges for Returning Undergraduate Students in the same session. It is also posted on the University website.
Students of the institution previously paid N19, 000 but the management has fixed new fees at N190, 250 for returning students studying medicine while for courses that require laboratory and studio, students are to pay N140, 250.
This does not include Utility Charges of N20, 000 to be paid by all undergraduate students and Convocation Fee of N30, 000 to be paid by all final year students. Charges for field trip where such is a mandatory requirement of the course of study will be determined as the need arises.
Staff who are also students are said to have been given the option to paying in instalments but with a condition to pay up one month before final exams.
