A final-year student of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), Ada Amazu, has reportedly attempted suicide over a hike in school fees.

The Guardian gathered that the Veterinary Medicine undergraduate contemplated suicide after she was asked to repeat an academic session for failing to pay her tuition fees, due to a recent hike from N71,000 to N196,000, before the end of registration.

Her situation was further compounded when she lost her scholarship from the church, following the increase in fees from N36,000 in her first year to N196,000 in final year.

While most of her colleagues, who gained admission through the scholarship programme dropped out after the church stopped paying, 51-year-old Amazu soldiered on by doing anything she could to raise the money on her own.

In a statement by a civil society organisation, Education Rights Campaign (ERC), made available to The Guardian, the group called for immediate reversal of the fees and opening of the registration portal to enable students to register.

Signed by the deputy national coordinator of the campaign, Isaac Ogunjimi, and national mobilisation officer, Adaramoye Michael, the group accused the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah of high-handedness for allegedly rusticating two union leaders for speaking out against the policy.

They accused the student union leadership of selling out for refusing to speak up against what they called ‘commercialisation of education.’

Although Amazu was not the only one affected as there are many others like her, the group noted that her case highlighted the tragic consequence of the government’s commercialisation of education and its manifestation in soaring education costs.

They enjoined the institution’s management to ensure that Amazu graduated from the university, as she has already completed all academic requirements, including examinations and final year projects.

“Unfortunately, the students’ union leadership failed to protest the fee hike. Only two union officials, the director of socials, Cyprian Igwe and director of sports, Oladeru Olamilekan, who spoke out against the policy were allegedly rusticated,” the statement read in part.

‘ But in a swift reaction, the director of public relations of the university, Dr Habib Yakoob, described the report as unfounded.

Yakoob, however, evaded questions on the alleged rustication of the two union leaders and the refusal of the vice chancellor to comply with the recommendations of the Senate committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions, which called for their reinstatement.

He said: “What I know for sure is that the university does not make pretences as to the fact that it wants to increase its fees. The last time that the university reviewed its fees, it was widely publicised on social media. Students responded and eventually, they understood why the review was done. So, the university does not increase its fees clandestinely; and if there are students who want to commit suicide based on this, I am not aware of that. What I know for sure is that our students have been going about their normal businesses and have largely paid their fees.”