A wave of discontent swept through the Abia State House of Assembly yesterday as members of the Common Man Assembly (COMA), Abia chapter, staged a protest against what they described as exorbitant school fees at Government College Umuahia (GCU).
The protesters, bearing placards and chanting solidarity songs, demanded urgent intervention from the Assembly to address the rising cost of education at the historic institution, which they claim now exceeds N1 million per academic session.
Their protest comes on the heels of a formal petition submitted last month by Mr Chukwudi Onwudinanti, a native of Ubani Emede-Ibeku in the Umuahia East constituency. The petition, addressed to the Assembly’s Joint Committee on Education, Public Petition and Judiciary, accuses the Fisher Education Development Trust—current managers of GCU—of commercializing the school and pulling down landmark structures without consulting the Government College Umuahia Old Boys Association (GCUOBA), recognized as owners of the institution.
In response, the committee had directed all involved parties to maintain the status quo pending the outcome of its investigation.
Undeterred, the protesting group, led by COMA President Mr. Nathaniel Nwoka and Secretary Mr. Banham Ezenwa, submitted a “Save Our Soul” letter to the Assembly, pleading for the school’s return to its original public status.
“The government should ensure that our intelligent children can go to the Government College, as it was in the past, by making the entrance exam open to everyone,” the letter read. “The school fees should be slashed to reflect the current economic situation in the country and state.”
Placards carried by demonstrators bore messages such as: “Bring down the high school fees of Government College Umuahia,” “GCU should be affordable for the rich and poor,” and “Governor Otti, please look into how GCU was handed over to the old boys and provide solutions.”
Addressing the protesters, Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Austin Okezie assured them that the Assembly was committed to protecting the public interest.
“This matter is already being handled by the Joint Committee on Education, Public Petition and Judiciary,” Okezie stated. “We have conducted two hearings and plan to hold a final session to allow all parties to fully express their views.”
A proud alumnus of the college, the Deputy Speaker praised those working to restore GCU’s legacy and promised a resolution that would balance all interests.
Similarly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Hon. Okoro Uchenna Kalu, confirmed that the matter was actively under review, assuring the protesters that their concerns were being taken seriously.
