Abia Assembly intervenes as alumni, school manager clash over fees

The Abia State House of Assembly Joint Committee on Education, Public Petition, and Judiciary has directed all parties involved in the dispute over high school fees at Government College, Umuahia, to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of the petition.

This is the sequel to a petition by Mr Chukwudi Onwudinanti against Fisher Education Development Trust, which manages the college.

He alleged that the FEDT imposed exorbitant fees and demolished buildings without consulting the Government College Umuahia Old Boys Association.

Onwudinanti, an indigene of Ubani Emede-Ibeku in the Umuahia East constituency, brought the matter before the Assembly.

In response, the Chairman of the Joint Committee, Anderson Akaliro, summoned members of FEDT to address the allegations.

During Thursday’s committee hearing, a representative of FEDT, Mr. Onyema Nkele, clarified that while the school remains public, it is privately managed by the trust.

He added that the Board of Trustees members serve five-year terms and can be replaced after their tenure expires.

Speaking on behalf of GCUOBA, Secretary Nkem Egbuta expressed concerns over the school fees, currently set at N1,150,000 per session.

He said the amount was deemed unaffordable for many parents.

“Initially, the fees were N2,000,000, but we raised our concerns with the school management, which comprises FEDT members.

“FEDT was established by the old boys to manage the school on their behalf. Unfortunately, our concerns were ignored. Eventually, the fees were reduced because parents could not afford them, and student enrollment dropped,” Egbuta explained.

He further alleged that two FEDT-appointed officials continued to hold their positions despite their tenure expiring last year.

“We appointed replacements, but they refused to step down, even after our Annual General Meeting passed a resolution on the matter during our homecoming event,” he added.

Egbuta emphasized that FEDT is a representative board whose members should be either government nominees or appointed by GCUOBA.

He argued that allowing members to replace themselves would render the alumni association powerless in management decisions.

Counsel to the petitioner, Ugochukwu Zik, clarified that the petition was not an attack on FEDT but an effort to protect the public interest and ensure that the school’s restoration agenda is not hindered by personal interests.

“We appreciate FEDT’s acknowledgement that Government College, Umuahia, is a public institution under private management. The House of Assembly has now ordered that all activities, including structural demolitions and trustee replacements, be suspended until investigations are completed,” he stated.

Zik also raised concerns about the eligibility of some FEDT trustees, pointing out that certain members reside outside the country, which contradicts the association’s constitution.

He noted that one trustee admitted to serving as the president of the USA branch. At the same time, another had resigned upon becoming a federal minister but later reinstated himself without the association’s approval.

“What is happening here reflects the wider issues in Nigerian politics, where lawlessness and power often override due process,” he said.

Class Captain of GCUOBA’s 1993 set, Nwadi Kenneth, advocated for reduced fees to make the school more accessible to students from low-income backgrounds.

“As a young boy from a humble background in Ndoki, I was able to attend Government College, Umuahia, based on merit. However, today’s system prioritizes financial capability over academic excellence. Brilliant students from the state are being sidelined, turning the school into an exclusive institution for the wealthy,” he lamented.