Protest Erupts in UNICAL Over Tuition Fee Hike

Protest erupted on Monday at the University of Calabar, Cross River State following an increase in the tuition levy of the Students by the School Management.

Students were seen with placards that read; “UNICAL VC, stop forcing girls into prostitution”,  “this is a federal university, not a business center,” Florence Obia, UNICAL is not a private university, which one is ‘slight increment’, say no to billing”, marching from the Malabar Square to the Senate building, blocking the movement of vehicles around Etta Agbor and Mary Slessor Avenue.

According to CrossRiverWatch, Vice Chancellor Professor Florence Obia stated in an interview that the tuition fees will be ‘slightly’ increased to suit the current economic realities but a 100% increase was done.

Students who paid N64,050 for freshers, and N52,050 for final-year students were asked to pay N111,000, N91,500, and N114,000, for freshers, returning, and final-year students in non-science courses respectively.

They will also pay N36,500, N21,500, and N21,500, respectively, as third-party dues.

Similarly, fees for science courses were increased to N155,000, N125,000, and N148,000, respectively, for freshers, returning students, and final-year students.

They are also to pay N38,500, N21,500, and N21,500 as third-party dues.

In the announcement on Monday, the spokesman of the Institution, Effiong Eyo stated that the hike which will take effect in the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic sessions was taking considering the economic realities of the country.