A group of 704 students from Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto has called on Governor Dr. Ahmed Aliyu to urgently intervene in their unresolved tuition fees, which have left them in academic limbo.
The students, who are indigent indigenes of Sokoto State, allege that the governor’s Special Adviser, Abubakar Salame, misappropriated funds meant for their tuition, using the money for personal purposes.
Addressing the press on Wednesday, Usman Yahuza, the leader of the affected students, explained that the state government had approved tuition fees for 5,994 indigent students. Of these, 5,290 students had their fees paid in full, but a shortfall of 704 students remains, with their fees still unpaid.
“The 5,994 students were verified by officials appointed by the Special Adviser between May 14 and May 18, 2024,” Yahuza stated. “Out of these, only 5,290 students had their fees paid in three batches, leaving the remaining 704 students in a state of uncertainty and hardship.”
The unpaid fees have forced some students to defer their admission, while others have withdrawn entirely due to their inability to pay. Some students have been issued temporary identity cards to allow them to participate in the ongoing semester exams, despite their fees not being settled.
In response to the allegations, Special Adviser Abubakar Salame has stated that he will address the claims at an appropriate time. The students, however, continue to press for immediate action to resolve the issue and safeguard their academic futures.
