Byline: Okey Sampson, Umuahia
On Tuesday, the Common Man Assembly (COMA), Abia State chapter, protested at the Abia State House of Assembly against the high school fees at Government College Umuahia (GCU). The group urged the Assembly to intervene and address the issue.
Last month, Mr Chukwudi Onwudinanti, from Ubani Emede-Ibeku in Umuahia East constituency, petitioned the Assembly’s Joint Committee on Education, Public Petition, and Judiciary. He accused the Fisher Education Development Trust (FEDT), which manages GCU, of charging excessive fees and demolishing historic buildings without consulting the Government College Umuahia Old Boys Association (GCUOBA), the college’s owners. The committee, currently investigating, directed all parties to maintain the status quo pending its findings.
Led by President Mr Nathaniel Nwoka and Secretary Mr Banham Ezenwa, COMA presented a Save Our Soul letter during the protest. They claimed FEDT runs GCU like a private school, charging over N1 million per session. The group appealed to the Abia State government to restore GCU’s public school status, making it accessible to children from poor backgrounds.
The letter stated in part: “Government should ensure that our children who are intelligent can go to Government College, as it was in the past by making the entrance exam open to everyone.
“The school fees should be slashed to reflect the economic situation of our country and state now.
“The state government should be part of the management of Government College Umuahia, so that our interest would be protected.”
Protesters carried placards with messages like: “Bring down the high school fees of Government College Umuahia,” “GCU should be made affordable for the rich and poor,” “Our children can no longer attend GCU due to high school fees,” and “Governor Otti please use your good offices and look into how GCU was handed over to the old boys and give solutions to the various issues.”
Deputy Speaker Rt Hon Austin Okezie addressed the protesters, assuring them that the 8th Assembly was handling the matter to safeguard public interest. “I want to reiterate that this matter is already being looked into by the Joint Committee on Education, Public Petition and Judiciary.
“We have had two hearings on it and from all indications we are going to have the final hearing just to give all the parties adequate opportunity to air their views.
“We assure you that public interest will be upheld at the end of the day. The content of the petition is quite clear and we have also seen your expression on the different placards you came with. We will come up with a resolution that will be in the interest of the general public.”
As a GCU alumnus, Okezie praised efforts to restore the college’s glory and promised to protect all interests. Committee Chairman Hon Okoro Uchenna Kalu added that the issue was under review.