Hike in hostel fees at BUK

By Rabi Isyaka Rabiu

SIR: On Wednesday, November 27, the Senate of Bayero University, Kano approved an upward review of the accommodation and other administrative charges for both post graduate and undergraduate students of the university.

In a statement signed by the Director of Examination, Admission and Records (DEAR), Hajiya Amina Umar Abdullahi, the university increased hostel fees for international postgraduate students by 33%, from the initial N60,000 up to N80,000. For Nigerian postgraduate students, there was 100.8 % increase from N12,150 up to N25,150.  Consequently, undergraduate students will now pay N20,090 which is 66% higher than the previous N12,090.

This sudden hike in the university’s accommodation and other administrative charges will no doubt pose a big challenge to the students of the university whose who mostly are not from wealthy families.

It is on record that some of the students have to go for part-time jobs outside the school before feeding and taking care of themselves, while some have to look for similar jobs at the end of the session before they can raise money for their school fees, accommodation and feeding for the whole session, since their parents find it difficult to cater for these same needs.

Despite the above outlined challenges, the university management didn’t put these into consideration before deciding on the increment.

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Though the university senate has been trying to help the indigent students by providing N50,000  scholarship to some of them, but that is not enough because not even up to 20 % of the indigent students benefit from it due to the current economic situation of the country.

Comparatively speaking, it still remains vague to me why the sudden increment in the accommodation and administrative charges of the university. What is the rationale behind the increment? Is it that the hostels have been renovated? These rhetorical questions become necessary because there is nothing conducive about the situation of the hostels.

Bayero University management should in the interest of the general society temper justice with mercy and reconsider these students and their parents by withdrawing the increment as this is the only means of survival to them.

The school should have a second thought before taking this decision in a school domiciled in an area battling with poverty and unemployment. The consequences of this increment will lead to high cost of living for the students.

BUK is one of the few federal institutions in the country where students can afford to study, an increment in the accommodation and other administrative charges will only make lives of the students messier, more miserable.

• Rabi Isyaka Rabiu, Bayero University, Kano.