Enugu: Reps decry imposition of N75,000 laptop charges on varsity students

House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to intervene into the imposition of N75,000 laptop fee on students of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) by the school authority.

The resolution was passed following the adoption of the motion of ‘under matters of urgent public importance’ sponsored by Bashir Babale, who expressed displeasure over the criticism trailing the newly introduced mandatory policy.

In his lead debate, Babale decried the university’s policy on compulsory payment of N75,000 as laptop fees for the newly admitted students, saying “this policy is arbitrary, inhuman and so sad that they are making access to education difficult for the people.

“Nigerians are anxious to study in order to contribute to the growth of the nation but this policy makes it difficult.’’

The lawmaker, who pointed out that education remained a vehicle to national development, stated the need to correct imbalance in the sector.

According to him, many citizens are living below the poverty line and are finding it difficult to pay the compulsory and outrageous laptop fees.

Babale said that the call to bar the compulsory laptop levy became necessary in order not to deprive Nigerians from having access to quality education.

“In a situation where young people are complaining of educational imbalance, how can an institution come up with this kind of policy,’’ he queried.

He further decried situation where some tertiary institutions in the country solely depend on the students for the general running of the overhead cost of the schools.

“Students are paying fees to construct roads and culverts in the universities,’’ he said, and urged the House to urge Enugu State House of Assembly to interface with the state government to ensure improved funding of education.

According to him, “when we open the doors to schools, we shut the door of prisons.’’

While ruling, Speaker Yakubu Dogara referred the motion to joint the House Committees on Basic and Tertiary Education to be chaired by Zakari Mohammed for further legislative actions.