The University of Jos (UNIJOS), on Thursday, announced a reduction in its fees payable by students while also approving payment in instalments.
UNIJOS' management made the announcement following a protest by the students against an increase in their school fees.
According to the management, two per cent of the amount payable by all students would be used to assist indigent students while 50 per cent would be dedicated to providing scholarships for indigent students.
The management noted that the other 50 per cent would be used to expand its work-study programme, a development that was said to have elicited the admiration of students, parents and staff.
The Punch reports that UNIJOS' Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tanko Ishaya had disclosed that the school fees had been crashed in the institution.
Ishaya stated that the decision to reduce the fees came after a series of negotiations between UNIJOS authorities, students and other stakeholders.
“UNIJOS fees have been crashed from whatever had been published before. In fact, students of non-science courses will now be paying N105,000. The science students will be paying N135,000 and N140,000 for laboratories; so we have crashed significantly our charges.
“So in all, returning students will be paying N140,000; in fact, some are now to pay N135,000 in total, that is those that are laboratory-based. Those that are not laboratory-based are paying less. It is important that the information gets out there because of some negative media reportage”, the VC had told The Punch.
A memo office of the Vice Chancellor signed by the Senior Deputy Registrar (Information and Publications), Abdullahi Abdullahi, made available to newsmen stating the important decisions made during the negotiation was titled “Revised undergraduate school charges and extension of payment deadline.”
The memo partly reads, “This is to inform students of the University of Jos, parents and members of the public that the University administration has approved a further revision in the school charges structure payable by undergraduate students of the institution from the 2022/2023 academic session. The University administration approved a reduction in the charges following a meeting with the expanded SUG Executives of the University.
“In view of its commitment to carry all stakeholders along following the University’s earlier decision to review its school charges structure, the University administration has made additional concessions in response to its engagement with the Students representatives.
“Some of the key decisions resulting from the interaction between the University administration and the students’ representatives include the following:
“The main charges for returning students who are not offering GST courses have been reduced from N150,000.00 to N95,000.00, while N100,000.00 will be paid by returning students offering GST courses.
“Fresh students will now pay N130,000.00, down from the initial charge of N180,000.00. Laboratory/studio/workshop charges are now set at N25,000.00 for students who exclusively use these facilities down from N30,000.00.
“The University administration has also approved for instalment payments to be introduced as follows: All returning students not using laboratory/studio/workshop facilities and not offering GST courses are to pay N95,000.00 as the 1st instalment and N10,000.00 as the 2nd instalment.
“All returning students not using laboratory/studio/workshop facilities but who offer GST courses are to pay N100,000.00 as the 1st instalment and N10,000.00 as the 2nd instalment.
“All returning students without GST courses but who use laboratory/studio/workshop facilities are to pay N95,000.00 as the first instalment and N35,000.00 as the second instalment. All Returning Students who use laboratory/studio/workshop facilities and offer GST courses are to pay N100,000.00 as the first instalment and N35,000.00 as the second instalment.”
The memo also stated that new students not using laboratory/studio/workshop facilities but who offer GST courses were to pay N130,000.00 as the first instalment and N10,000.00 as the second instalment.
It added that new students who would use laboratory/studio/workshop facilities and who offer GST courses are to pay N130,000.00 as the first instalment and N35,000.00 as the second instalment.
“Similarly, two per cent of the amount payable by all students will be dedicated to assisting indigent students, with 50 per cent being channelled towards providing scholarships for indigent students and the other 50 per cent to be utilized for the expansion of the University’s work-study programme.
“Spilled-over students (having one semester left to complete their studies) will be required to pay only 50 per cent of the reviewed charges. The deadline for the registration exercise has been extended by a further two weeks. The new deadline is now October 8 2023.
“Two of the student leaders, the SUG President and one nominee of the Hall Governors, will serve as members of the Hostels Maintenance Committee,” the Deputy Registrar said.
The university management, while stating that first semester lectures for the 2022/2023 academic session have since commenced, urged its students and their parents to take note of changes and follow the new payment and registration guidelines.
Abdulahhi added that the University management has approved the re-opening of the Naraguta, Zion, and Postgraduate Hostels from Friday, September 22, 2023, for students willing to seek accommodation on campus, while Abuja and Village Hostels would remain closed until minor repairs were completed.
“The University of Jos remains focused on providing an excellent learning experience and supporting its Students in achieving their academic and career goals.
"The University administration is, therefore, committed to being transparent and accountable in the management of the University’s resources as it continues to strengthen areas of common interest and deepen partnership with the Students and other stakeholders”, he stressed.
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