The Student Union Government (SUG) of the University of Jos has directed newly admitted students to suspend payment of high school fees.
In a statement on Tuesday in Jos, the SUG, condemned the high increase in school fees for new students.describing it as alarming and unjustifiable.
The statement signed by the SUG President, Jane Pwajok, lamented that the increase has resulted in the jacking up of the fees from N130,000 to N200,000 excluding the N30,000 acceptance fee.
The statement directed all newly admitted students to suspend the payment of school fees.
The union noted that the hike in fees has placed undue burden on the students and their families and called for a decisive action.
Pwajok said the directive for suspension of payment of the fees was reached after consultations with faculty presidents, departmental presidents, leaders of tribal unions as well as past and current union leaders.
She added that the suspension of fees payment is one of the series of actions the SUG has taken to address the situation.
The union also directed all students of the university to wear black attire on Wednesday to mourn the unfair increase in fees for the new students.
It urged the students to collect “Solidarity Tags” available in all faculties, which must hung on their neck by 10 am in solidarity with the new students.
The union also directed that departmental, faculty and SUG dues be halted until further notice.
“We remain committed to engaging the university management constructively.
“However, it is deeply disheartening that University of Jos, has become synonymous with recurrent and unreasonable fee increments, leaving students and their families in financial distress. This cannot continue.
“We also call on all returning students to join the movement by withholding their school fees payments until a satisfactory resolution is reached. Our strength lies in our unity.
Together, we can push for justice and fairness.
“Should the university management fail to address this pressing issue promptly and reasonably, we will escalate our actions in the spirit of Aluta!
“Let it be known that SUG will never relent in fighting for the rights and welfare of all Josites”, the statement said.
