A crisis is unfolding at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, where 704 students are struggling to make ends meet due to unpaid tuition fees. The affected students, all indigent indigenes of Sokoto State, are calling on Governor Dr. Ahmed Aliyu to intervene urgently to resolve the impasse.
The students claim that funds allocated for their tuition were misused by the Special Adviser, Abubakar Salame, who allegedly diverted the money for personal gain. The students are demanding accountability and swift action to address the issue.
According to Usman Yahuza, leader of the affected students, the state government had initially approved tuition fees for 5,994 indigent students. While 5,290 students received their fees in full, a significant shortfall of 704 students remains unpaid. The students were verified by officials appointed by the Special Adviser between May 14 and May 18, 2024.
The outstanding fees have left many students in a precarious situation, forcing some to defer their admission or withdraw from the university altogether. To mitigate the situation, some students have been issued temporary identity cards, allowing them to participate in ongoing semester exams despite their unpaid fees.
In response to the allegations, the Special Adviser has declined to comment, stating that he will address the issue at a later time. However, the students remain resolute in their demand for immediate action to resolve the crisis and ensure their academic futures are safeguarded.
