The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, yesterday differ on the increase in fees paid in unity colleges across the country.
They gave different versions over increase in fees from N20,000 to N75,000, in Nigeria’s Unity Colleges. While the Minister denied knowledge of the increment in fees from N20,000 to N75,000 per term, the Permanent Secretary confirmed the increase.
The Minister, who made his denial at the launch of National Education Quality Assurance Handbook, organised by the Ministry in Abuja, said: “I am not aware Unity School fees have been increased. I am the Minister of Education and I am not aware. Well, you better try to find out.” But the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, confirmed the increase.
She said: “We should also be aware that these schools are tuition-free, what we increased were the boarding fees and it was definitely not up to 300%. ‘’There was a breakdown of the levies in these colleges. You are taking these things out of context, it was only the boarding fees that were increased.
“There is a long lists of fees that are paid in these colleges. If you compare the fees they were paying and what they are paying now, definitely the increase was not up to 30% .”
On the alleged feud between the Minister, Malam Adamu, and Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anwukah, the Minister denied it, saying “I am not aware that the Minister of State has been sidelined; it is not true at all that there is a feud between me and Minister of State.”
On why the Minister of State was absent, at official assignments in the last few weeks, Adamu said: “I don’t know why he was absent because the last person I saw in the office was Professor Anwukah.”
Credit: Vanguard
