Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Prof Benjamin Ozumba and representatives of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) have come to an agreement and resolved all issues regarding the payment of N70, 000 laptop fee by the newly admitted students.
Management, lecturers come to agreement over laptop fee
The Vice Chancellor has come to an agreement with the students over laptop fee.
The students were upset when the management of the University made the decision to impose N70, 000 fee on freshers which is payment for a laptop that will be provided for them. The students were worried, mainly about the fact that they could not afford such amount. They were concerned that this might mean losing their admission.
Fortunately, the matter has now been resolved following a meeting between the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Benjamin Ozumba and the Students’ Union Government (SUG) representatives. They have agreed that students can now pay this fee installmentally.
A statement accepting the SUG’s plea reads: “The university administration has arrived at the following resolution after an extensive discussion with the SUG leaders. The laptop fee is compulsory for all first year students, but there is an option to either pay once or in three installments.
“For those to pay in three installments, they will make a yearly payment of N25,000 spread over three sessions. The installment will be added to the student’s service charge in the sessions. All non-freshers who want to be part of the programme must make single payment of N70,000. There is no installment provision for non-freshers.”
Faith Godwin, a worried fresher had this to say on the policy, “I was thinking where I would get the money, because my parents only gave me the school fee. I found the laptop scheme to be good but many of us could not afford to pay at once. This is why I am happy that the fee has been divided into installments,” she said.
Due to the laptop fee introduction, the registration of freshers recorded low turnout.
A non-teaching staff, who gave his name as Mr. Uchenna, described the initiative as good project, but said it came at wrong time.
He said: “Economic situation is very bad and everyone is affected. Some students came in to register, but they could not pay because of the laptop fee. This is a good initiative but it came at a wrong time. If you go from faculty to faculty, you would hear the same story. Since we started the registration exercise, some faculties have not cleared more than 200 students.
“Good enough, the school management eventually understood the country situation and introduced the installment initiative. This would make students to come for registration.”
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