Abuja – Unity Colleges, Other Public Schools Enter Hidden Charges Wahala

Stakeholders for Nigeria education sector don raise serious alarm say unity colleges and public basic schools for Abuja dey collect illegal hidden charges from students, despite wetin di Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act talk about free and compulsory basic education. Dem talk for interviews on Wednesday say dis habit of hiding school fees under levies, uniforms, PTA charges, and “mandatory items” dey undermine government promise of free education and fit push vulnerable children comot from school.

Reports show say unity schools for FCT dey collect up to N300,000 as disguised fees, while other public boarding and day schools dey charge between N120,000 and N200,000 before dem register students. Investigations show say schools dey set official “school fees” column to zero for receipt, but dey hide di real charges inside compulsory items, administrative levies, uniforms, locker, mattress, PTA dues, medical tests and other payments. Parents for Maitama, Kubwa, Nyanya and Gwagwalada narrate how dem pay between N92,000 and N123,000, some even selling property to meet up, while some children don drop out or delay admission because dem no fit pay. Di national PTA president, Boniface Odeh, describe di matter as “disheartening” and a clear breach of di UBE Act, warning say di illegal levies fit deny Nigerian children access to quality education. E call on Ministry of Education, UBEC and other bodies to investigate di schools and sanction dem, while urging parents to unite and fight for dia rights. Some school administrators defend di charges, saying government no dey release enough funds for maintenance, security, exams and other running costs, so PTA contributions dey necessary. But stakeholders insist say education na human right and UBE Act talk clearly say basic education must be free and compulsory for all children. Dem maintain say only better funding and strict enforcement of di law fit stop di hidden charges wey don turn serious wahala for parents and students.