We Will Not Hike Tuition Fees In Tertiary Institutions - Governor Wada -

Gov. Idris Wada of Kogi said in Lokoja on Thursday that there were no plans to hike tuition fees in the State Government-owned tertiary institutions.

Wada said this when a delegation from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) led by its President, Mr Yinka Gbadebo, paid him a courtesy visit.

He said having realised that Nigerian students were passing through lots of hardships; he would never be part of any decision that would make life more difficult for them.

Wada said rather than contemplate increasing school fees; his administration was more concerned with providing facilities that would enhance teaching and learning in tertiary schools.

The governor said the National Universities Commission (NUC) had accredited all courses offered by the Kogi State University, Anyingba.

The accreditation of the programmes, he added, was an indication of his administration’s commitment to providing quality education for the state's future leaders.

The governor advised the students to be dedicated to their studies, disciplined and focused.

He announced a donation of 18-seater bus to the leadership of the National Association of Kogi State students (NAKOSS) to enhance its operations.

He also announced a donation of computer and its accessories to NANS headquarters.

Earlier, Gbadebo told the governor that the leadership of NANS had visited all the Kogi state government-owned tertiary institutions to assess the quality of their facilities, particularly those that relate to students’ welfare.

He commended the state government for ensuring 100 per cent accreditation of courses at the university and for providing hostel and water to it and the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja.

Gbadebo expressed satisfaction with facilities at the new Kogi State College of Education (Technical), Kabba, and Kogi State College of Education, Ankpa, recently upgraded to a degree-awarding institution.

The President of NAKOSS, Mr Abubakar Shaibu, commended Wada for the prompt release of 2012/2013 bursary to students of Kogi origin. (NAN)