• Governor’s Initiative: Governor Ahmad Aliyu has allocated N5,557,864,956 for the tuition fees of Sokoto State students .
• Unpaid Students: Despite this allocation, 774 students remain unpaid, sparking concerns about the distribution of funds .
• Verification Exercise: The Sokoto State Government conducted a verification exercise for 5,994 Sokoto indigenes studying at Usmanu Danfodiyo University .
• Student Coalition’s Praise: A coalition of Sokoto state indigenous students’ associations has hailed Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto for prioritizing education and supporting Sokoto indigenous students’ academic pursuits .
• Governor’s Education Agenda: Governor Aliyu has made significant strides in education, including the immediate verification and payment of tuition fees for over 7,744 students at Usman Danfodio University .
Over 700 students from Sokoto State are facing a tough situation due to unpaid tuition fees, despite Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s allocation of N5,557,864,956 for their education. The students, represented by Usman Yahuza, claim that Hon. Abubakar Muhammad Salame, Special Adviser on Student Affairs, has failed to settle their fees, leaving 774 students unpaid.
The Issue at Hand
• 5,994 students were approved for tuition fee payments at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, but only 5,290 received their payments.
• The state government allocated a substantial amount for the students’ tuition fees under Salame’s office.
• Attempts to reach Salame have been unsuccessful, with reports of him denying concerned students access to his office.
Accusations and Concerns
• The students accuse Salame of diverting funds intended for tuition payments for personal use.
• Many students have had to defer their studies or take on manual labor jobs to raise funds.
Call to Action
• The students appeal to Governor Ahmed Aliyu to intervene, citing the severe impact on their studies.
This issue follows a verification exercise conducted by the Sokoto State Government from May 14 to 18, 2024, for 5,994 Sokoto indigenes studying at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, who were expelled due to non-payment of tuition fees. The students also claim that Salame’s decision to issue payments in three batches has caused further delays and uncertainty .
