Date: 2018-01-04

I am pleased to share with the good people of Kwara State, the final 151-page report, decision and directive on the illegal tuition fee hike by the management of Kwara State Polytechnic. These decisions were arrived at by the Joint Committee made up of the highest officers of both the Executive and Legislative arms of the Government of Kwara State.

The Joint Committee, Chaired by the Secretary to the State Government , Alhaji S. I. Gold, had the following as members: Hon Jimoh Akanni (Chairman House Committee on Education), Hon. Abdurasheed Taiwo (a chartered accountant member of the House representing Owode/Onire State Constituency), Hon. Adamu Usman (an expert on financial management representing Okuta/Yashikira State Constituency), Hon. Mathew Babaoye (Chairman House Committee on Works), Dr. Amina Ahmed (Hon. Commissioner Tertiary Education), Alh. Yusuf Abdulwahab (Chief of Staff to the Governor), Hon. Kayode Omotose (SSA to the Governor on Legislative matters), Dr. S.A. Ajayi (SSA Tertiary Education), Alh. Masud Elelu (Rector Kwara State Polytechnic), Alh. A. R. Ayinla (Perm. Sec. General Services as Secretary). After forensic review of facts and figures, the Joint Committee came up with the following decisions:

That for the 2017/2018 academic session, Kwara State Polytechnic shall revert to schedule of fees as approved by the Joint Committee, which fees are much lower than what indigene students paid during the last 2016/2017 session. In other words, the payable fees by indigenes are now not only lower than what the management was to charge, they are even lower than what students paid last academic session. Thus, some students will now pay as much as N19,000 less than what they would have paid.

All students that have paid over and above the 2017/2018 fees as just approved shall be refunded by the School. This decision supersedes all earlier decisions on this subject matter. Students have up until the end of January to fully pay their newly approved tuition fees.

The Council and Representatives of Students should be carried along and all due process followed before any future increase in tuition.

The decision to reduce the tuition fees beyond what students paid last year was reached based on credible information and the need to reflect the policy of the State Government that education should at all time be affordable to students. We were reminded of the State Policy by the Senate President, His Excellency Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, OON on 4th of December, when he bemoaned the increase as beyond the reach of ordinary parents. Nothing shows the commitment of Kwara State to this age-long policy than the constitution of this Joint Committee itself. A joint committee of two arms is not common, indeed it is impossible in some presidential systems. But the major consideration of all officials is the finding of a lasting solution to the fee increase saga dictated this extreme scenario. Though extreme, it was the only way available to the State in the face of some officials of a state-owned institution dishing out inaccurate figures to mislead the Executive.

It would be recalled that on the 20th of December, 2017 when very senior members of the Executive appeared before the Committee of the Whole House, the House was briefed about the decision of His Excellency, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, to set up this Joint Committee with a promise that all parties will abide by the result of whatever figure that is supported by evidence, even if that figure would be lower than last year's. We are grateful to His Excellency for allowing the Joint Committee unfettered access to the books of the Polytechnic and for not interfering before, during and after the investigative work. We thank him for showing to Kwarans again that his words are his bonds.

You would also recall that the House was alarmed by an earlier confusion and contradictory statements by the school authority to the effect that there was no increase in tuition fees of the school. The House had earlier passed a resolution on the 13 day of December, urging the School to revert back to tuition fees of the previous year. Before then, the House had summoned the management and Council of the School on December 6th, following submission of a petition on 22nd November, by representatives of the students and the Committee on Education with the House Leader in attendance.

You would recall that when we reconsidered our position on the 2018 budget, we did so with a commitment to Kwarans that by the first week of January, we would lay to rest in a permanent fashion, the issue of tuition fees of the Kwara State Polytechnic. We thank God we are able to deliver on this promise. With the decision of today, the issue of the 2017/2018 tuition fees of Kwara State Polytechnic is hereby finalised.

We hereby thanked His Excellency the Senate President for subtly reminding us of our commitment to affordable education in the State. As I stated earlier, We must thank His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kwara State and his high officials who shared his vision of affordable education not only to Kwara State indigenes but to all category of students in the State. My indefatigable colleagues worked throughout the recess, some cancelled their travel engagements to deliver on our promise. We appreciate also the exemplary attitude of the students of this Institution. Some students would have gone on a destruction spree, they would have gone accusing everyone of collusion. But alas, they followed due process and today they are the winners. They have a little change in their pockets and they serve as shining examples to other body of Kwarans who, upon slight provocation, will threaten showdown with authorities and malign everyone in sight. We thank these young leaders of tomorrow. I salute you all.

Democracy is working in Kwara State. Independent as it is, people-oriented as it has always been, yet it will always collaborate with the other arm of government. No arm of government can deliver good governance to its citizens. Democracy works through calculated deliberation, credible information and the desire to do good for the benefit of the greater number of the citizens. Democracy does not work by fiat. It may take a little while, but democracy works. It certainly works here in Kwara State.

Thank you all.