Kaduna State University students protest almost 600% increase in tuition fees

Students of the Kaduna State University on Tuesday led a protest to the Government House in Kaduna to protest over an increase in their tuition fees.

The state-owned tertiary institution recently announced an increase of its annual school fee of N26,000 by almost 600%.

According to the proposed new tuition fees, indigenous students studying social science courses are to pay about N150,000 while their counterparts in medicine and other science courses will pay between N170,000 and above as annual fees.

The student had been protesting within their school premises since last week but they decided to block the roads as they increase their calls for the state to review the decision.

The protesting students carrying placards with various inscriptions marched from their campus located along the Tafawa Balewa Way through Muhammadu Buhari Way (formerly WAFF road) and headed toward Government House before they were prevented by security operatives comprising the regular police and men of the Kaduna State Vigilante Group.

The students blocked all the major roads to the government house, thereby preventing the free flow of traffic. They insist their demands must be met by the state government.

Some of the students conducted prayers on the main road while the others watch.

Security operatives were also on the ground to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order.

The students lamented that the hike in some courses to N300,000 and N400,000 from N36,000 will force many of them to drop out of school.

They, therefore, demanded a reversal of tuition fees.

They called on the State Governor Nasir El-Rufai whose policy is to ensure that children of common people are given access to Education to intervene.