Date: 2017-12-07

The Kwara State House of Assembly has waded into the rift between the Management and Students of Kwara State Polytechnic Ilorin, over disputation about increase in the tuition fees, for the 2017/2018 academic year.

Speaking after a three-hour meeting between the Legislature, Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr. Aminat Ahmed, Governing Council, Management and Student representatives of the institution, the Speaker, Dr Ali Ahmad,who presided over the meeting, said the House was committed to finding an enduring solution to the impasse.

Dr. Ahmad said the House found as a fact that there was a 19.4 % increase in the tuition for 2017/2018 academic session over that of 2016/2017 session. Similarly, information available at the hearing shows an increase of between 18% and 33.3 % for 2017/2018 session over and above fees paid in 2016/2017. The legislature thereafter directed the school management to reflect the 50% reduction in fees as directed by the State Governor.

However, the Parliament urged the institution to seriously improve on its communication channels with students to avoid future controversies. It also urged the management to resuscitate Student Union Government to ensure students' representation on key policy decisions that could impact their wellbeing.

The Parliament further directed the management and students to furnish it within 24 hours with further details or documents, if any.

The lawmakers, which included the Deputy Speaker, Leader, Chairman and members of the Committee on Education, thanked educationists and other stakeholders, especially the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, for his interest in provision of quality but affordable education across the country. The House also appreciated the high sense of purposefulness and maturity displayed by students and other Stakeholders at the hearing.