By Ovie Okpare
There is disquiet at the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, following the institution’s directive to postgraduate and undergraduate students to revalidate their registration for the 2019/2020 academic session with the payment of COVID-19 levies.
NIGER DELTA TODAY (NDT) Online exclusively learnt that the payment applies to students of all campuses of the institution in Abraka, Oleh and Anwai.
According to a document obtained by this medium, the school management in a bulletin on Monday October 5, 2020, directed undergraduate and diploma students returning for the second semester of the 2019/2020 academic session to pay N5,000 for COVID-19 facilities.
It also directed postgraduate students at all levels to pay N10,000 for COVID-19 facilities upon resumption this week.
Although the school did not state the facilities it was going to provide with the money, the document explained that the funds will enable the school management plan for the health and safety of all students of the institution.
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The development has started generating uproar among students and parents who described the new fees as exploitative on the part of the school management.
Recall that schools across the country including DELSU were shutdown in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic as part of measures to contain the spread of the virus.
DELSU, however, announced for the re-opening of academic activities last week to complete the second semester of 2019/2020 academic session on Monday October 5, 2020.
The reopening is coming six months after the institution was shutdown to curtail the spread of deadly virus.
However, findings by NIGER DELTA TODAY Online revealed that students at all levels had already paid health levies upon commencement of the 2019/2020 academic session.
The document obtained by this medium announcing the new levy was titled, “Approved Guidelines For All Returning Postgraduate And Undergraduate Students.”
According to the document, “All returning postgraduate and undergraduate students of the Delta State University are required to take the following steps in order to revalidate their registration for the 2019/2020 academic session.
“This is to enable Management plan for the health and safety of the students in the use lecture halls and ensure proper precautionary measures are taken in the allocation of students in the halls for the second semester examination in line with the Federal Ministry Education and NCDC COVID-19 guidelines. The steps are:
“Payment of COVID-19 facilities upgrade charge of N5,000.00 by all returning undergraduate and diploma students and N10,000.00 only for all postgraduate students.
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“After payment in designated banks, students should proceed to print registration reconfirmation/revalidation from the University website (www.delsu,edu.ng) using your matriculation number as login detail. This should be done the next day after payment.
“Submission of a copy of the printed registration reconfirmation/revalidation to the office of your Head of Department.”
Reacting to the development, a parent, Julius Ogu, whose daughter is in final year, described the new fee as exploitative and insensitive considering the current economic reality occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He called on the State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and management of DELSU to quickly suspend the fee.
Also speaking, a doctorate degree student who do not want to be mentioned queried, “Why imposed another levy when students had paid for all levies at the beginning of the session. It amounts to double jeopardy by imposing fresh levies on students when they have already paid for medicals fee for the session.
“This is huge economic burden on parents and students who are sponsoring themselves and who are already pauperised by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are calling on the state government to prevail on the school management to retract the new fee. This levy is not good for all the efforts the state government under Governor Okowa made on the Corona Virus issue.
“Many students have not résumés because there is no money. We believe that the state government has done so much in the battle against COVID-19 and students should not be unnecessarily disturbed by fresh levies when they have just two months.”
Meanwhile, students in the state under the aegis of National Association of Delta State Students (NADESTTU) have kicked against the COVID-19 levy, warning students in the state not to pay the new fee.
A statement signed NADESSTU President, Godwin Saturday, said the fee was ‘blatant extortion’ by the university.
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“We have consulted with all the critical stakeholders and sister organization on this Issue and we vehemently say no to this extortion. We want to inform the students that we are prepared to resist the wickedness by all legal means possible and modalities are already in top gear to ensure our students are saved from this extortion.”
“We are by this notice directing all returning students in respective Tertiary Institutions in Delta State not to pay the COVID-19 levy slammed on them by their institutions.
“The National Association of Delta State Students (NADESSTU) Worldwide, we received the news of this development in rude shock and disappointment that the management of these institutions are this insensitive to the plight and situation of Nigerians and students”, Saturday stated.
It further added, “Due to the long holiday, the house rents of most students have expired, many parents have lost their jobs, others are challenged with salary cut and the economy is biting on low income earners yet institutions still went ahead to slam the students with an unjustifiable Covid-19 levy at resumption.”
“We shall not be responsible for those who have paid when this struggle is eventually won and we will not clamour for any refund if any student flaunts this directive by going ahead with the payment.
“We also want all SUG Presidents, NADESSTU Presidents and all union leaders and stakeholders to take note of this and help drive this message home to their students.”
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the institution, Mr Eddy Agbure, promised to furnished NIGER DELTA TODAY Online on why students were being charged to revalidate their registration for the session.
He had yet to call back as of the time of filing this report on Wednesday.
