The Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) Prof. Francisca Bassey, has debunked allegations by some protesting students of the institution that the management has not done any fee increment in the last ten years.
Prof. Bassey debunked the allegations while reacting to the protest embarked on by some students of the institution on Thursday, at the main campus Calabar, the Cross River State capital over alleged directive on fee payment.
She stated that the protest has disrupted some examination papers scheduled for the day, stressing that the examination had been re-scheduled for Monday.
The Acting Vice Chancellor stressed that despite the hike in prices of good services in the country, fees paid by students of the institution has remained unchanged for the past ten years.
“There is no increment, it’s a lie. Check across board, what they are paying; indigenes who are the majority are paying about 70, 000 school fees since ten years ago.
“The fees which is less than 7,000 per month for indigent students, our charges are about 72, 000 which is 6,600 per month.
“Look at the rate of inflation which is over 300%. Ten years ago, how much was fuel, rice, rim of paper, ink, pen, diesel, so let’s face it, how much was NEPA bill then and now, we have not increased our fees,” the Acting VC stated.
On the protest, Prof. Bassey explained that the management of the institution had engaged the student’s union and they reached an agreement to commenced payment and wondered why the students latter reneged.
She stated that within the last two months, the management of the institution re-installed electricity at the students’ hotels and provided water reticulation.
“We are facing accreditation and need to fix the classrooms, all we are asking is just pay school fees,” she stated.
