Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) in Rivers State has called on the authorities of the Rivers State University to review the current mandatory charges imposed on graduands.
The university recently rolled out mandatory charges payable by graduands that will be conferred with certificates, first degrees, postgraduate degrees and doctorate degrees.
According to the university authorities, the charges are for their certificates, convocation brochures, scrolls, hiring of convocation gowns, lapels and ties.
But, CLO, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by its spokesman, Emmanuel Obe, described the charges as outrageous, prohibitive and exploitative, pointing out that some of the charges are higher than the national minimum wage.
The statement reads in part: “No sooner have the charges been released than the students, parents and guardians began to lament the exorbitant charges, which require that certificate degree graduands to pay, N68,000; first degree graduands, N97,000, postgraduate degrees graduands, N145,000; and doctorate degree graduands, N220,000.
“These graduating students have completed their respective programmes after paying all their fees and levies for the duration that their programmes lasted. Many of them come from homes where families live from day to day.
“They have at least completed what was required of them to graduate and earn their certificates. The least deserve at this point is for the University to congratulate them and issue them with their certificates.
“The Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO , Rivers State Chapter, considers these charges as outrageous, prohibitive and exploitative. Some of them are even higher than the national minimum wage. How can parents with more than one graduating do?
“Convocation is a mere ceremony, which should not deter students that have earned their degrees and diplomas from receiving them from the Universi
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