Cross River College of Health Technology Students Protest 50% Tuition Hike

Students of the Cross River State College of Health Technology have expressed outrage over a sudden and steep increase in tuition fees, with some alleging hikes of over 50% for non-indigenes.

According to several students, the hike was implemented last month, pushing costs beyond the reach of many under Nigeria’s current economic strain.

Speaking to reporters, Samson Akpan, a Higher National Diploma (HND) student, said he is now expected to pay ₦150,000, in addition to other “sorting” and miscellaneous fees.

“Students who are indigenes of the state in the same programme are to pay ₦120,000. Before now, I paid ₦85,000 while natives paid ₦60,000. This increase is really killing as we cannot afford such skyrocketing fees,” Akpan lamented.

Students accused the school’s provost, Dr. Ita Ikpeme, of implementing the hike upon returning to the institution after heading a department. They argue that the move is insensitive given the economic realities of the country.

The students are urging the administration to reverse or reduce the new tuition rates to ease their financial burden. Efforts to get a comment from Dr. Ikpeme were unsuccessful, but staff in his office, speaking anonymously, claimed the decision came from the institution, not the provost personally.