The Cross River State Government has directed all health institutions found to have illegally collected levies from students to immediately refund the monies or face strict sanctions.
The government has also inaugurated a panel of inquiry to investigate the alleged extortions and recommend appropriate penalties for those responsible.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, made this announcement on Saturday during a visit to the Ogoja College of Nursing Sciences, where he condemned what he described as a betrayal of trust and a violation of established standards.
Dr. Ayuk ordered an immediate end to all unauthorized collections across state-owned health institutions and mandated full refunds to affected students without delay.
At the College of Health Technology in Calabar, similar allegations of illegal fees have also been reported.
Describing the situation as “outrageous and intolerable,” the commissioner cited a recent viral video that exposed unauthorized extortion at one of the institutions, sparking widespread outrage among parents, students, and the general public.
“Any institution engaged in these shameful acts must halt immediately and return all illegal collections to the victims,” Ayuk said. “Whoever is found guilty will be dealt with decisively according to the laws of the land. This administration has zero tolerance for exploitation and corruption.”
He stressed that no institution or individual, regardless of status, would be shielded from justice, affirming that Governor Bassey Otu’s administration is committed to transparency, accountability, and protecting the vulnerable.
“The education and future of our young people must not be sold to the highest bidder. Those who think they can defraud our students under this government are mistaken,” he added.
As of press time, management of the Ogoja College of Nursing Sciences and the College of Health Technology, Calabar, had yet to respond to the allegations.
