Kano Govt. frowns at BUK’s increase of students’ registration fees

The Kano State Government has frowned at the sudden increase of students’ registration fees by the management of Bayero University Kano, BUK.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Chief Information Officer, Kano State Ministry for Higher Education, Sunusi Na’Isa in Kano on Friday.

Na’Isa repoted the state Commissioner for Higher Education, Dr. Yusuf Kofarmata, as describing the development as alarming during a courtesy visit to the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sagir Abbas in his office.

According to the statement, the Commissioner explained that the aim of his visit was to strengthen the cordial relationship between the government and BUK, and also to discuss the sudden increase of registration fees.

”We are here to collaborate with the management of Bayero University, Kano, to look into possible measures to ameliorate the situation as majority of students cannot afford to pay.

“Governor Abba Yusuf directed me to intimate you, discuss and find a lasting solution to it for the progress and development of education in the state,” the commissioner was quoted as saying.

Kofarmata explained that government had already put arrangements in place to sponsor 101 Kano indigenes to pursue post-graduate degrees at both local and foreign universities.

He said that the state government would also give scholarships exclusively to married women to enable them to undergo post-graduate programmes.

The Commissioner added that to complement the efforts of the present administration in the education sector, BUK had a lot to offer to help achieve government’s set objectives.

He appealed to the vice chancellor to look into the possibility of reducing the registration fees for the sake of indigent students.

Responding, the vice chancellor welcomed the commissioner and congratulated him on his appointment, which he described as well deserved.

He expressed hope that the visit would further cement the long existing relationship between the state government and the university.

“We spend over N100 million every month to settle utility bills, besides other critical expenditures, BUK is actually charging only for services rendered to students, not tuition fees as claimed in some quarters,” the vice chancellor explained.

He further explained that the university was charging far less fees compared to other universities like the University of Maiduguri, University of Lagos, Federal University, Dutse and Kaduna State University.

The vice chancellor lauded Gov Abba Yusuf for his foresight and concern towards the development of education in Kano State.