Pat Stevens/
The House of Representatives has called for the abolishment of ‘acceptance fees’ demanded from students offered admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
The motion was moved yesterday by Emeka Chinedu, a Peoples Democratic Party lawmakers representing Ahiazu Mbaise/Ezinihitte Federal Constituency.
Leading the debate on how to correct the anomaly, Chinedu said one of the factors contributing to poor access to tertiary education is the “predatory admission policies being enforced by tertiary institutions, particularly the requirement for payment of non-refundable acceptance fees as a condition precedent for admission”.
He added that “it should bother the lawmakers that his state’s Imo State University charges N70,000 as acceptance fee”.
“Other institutions like the University of Ibadan charge 35,000; University of Lagos, 20,000; Ahmadu Bello University, 30,000; Lagos State University, N20,000; University of Uyo, 25,000,” he said.
He, therefore, moved that the fee be abolished.
He was unanimously backed by his colleagues.
Consequently, the House also mandated the House Committee on Tertiary Education and Services “to investigate the admission policies and practices of tertiary institutions in the country as they relate to the charge of acceptance fees in order to remove all obstacles to accessing tertiary education in the country.”.
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