. Risk deportation over unpaid school fees
By Nmerichukwu Igweamaka
Ebonyi State overseas PhD students on Sunday called on their State Governor, Engr. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State to come to their aid by facilitating the payment of their outstanding tuition fees in various higher institutions in the United Kingdom.
In a letter addressed to the Governor titled, “Congratulatory and passionate appeal letter for urgent intervention by Ebonyi State Government to salvage our PhD studies”, the students who called for urgent intervention of the State Government in their studies added: “This development has stalled our programme as our university have logged us out of their various systems, while demanding that we pay the outstanding fees or face legal action before deportation.”
According to their representatives, Celestine Nwojij, University Of Liverpool, UK, Nworie Obinna Elijah, University of Salford, UK, Ejike Dick, University of Nottigham, UK, “The time to come to our rescue is now as we are at the verge of being deported from our various countries of residence.
“The Ebonyi State Overseas Sponsored PhD Students wish to use this opportunity to felicitate with our dynamic and pragmatic Governor, Chief David Nweze Umahi, for your victory and emergence as the Peoples Democratic Party candidate for upcoming governorship elections in Ebonyi State in 2019.
“Your emergence has demonstrated that your administration has a divine connotation and you have been specially chosen by God to liberate Ebonyi State from shackles of underdevelopment that have marred the state since its creation.
“We are using this opportunity to once again appeal to your Excellency, our dear loving Governor, to graciously come to our rescue by settling our outstanding tuition fees which the SSA to the Governor on Higher Education had confirmed has been sent to your office.
“It will be recalled that after our initial tuition fee payment (ranging from £11,950 to £30,000 per session for each student), which was paid upon commencement of our programmes, two tranches of payment (N3,000,000 each), totalling N6,000,000 have also been made.
“This payment, which we deeply appreciate, is however a far cry from the amount needed to settle our outstanding two session’s fees. This means that we still have one outstanding full session tuition fees that has remained unpaid.
“This development has stalled our program as our university have logged us out of their various systems, while demanding that we pay the outstanding fees or face legal action before deportation.
“Against this backdrop therefore, we earnestly implore your Excellency to come to our rescue in order to secure the huge investment so far made by the State Government, and also not allow our sojourn and effort in our various countries of abode to come to waste.
“The time to come to our rescue is now as we are at the verge of being deported from our various countries of residence. In our various contacts with the Senior Special Assistant to Ebonyi State Government on Higher Education, we were made to understand that a memo detailing the cost implications of tuition fees has been submitted to your office Your Excellency for consideration.
“It is on this note that we most respectfully and kindly solicit for your kind intervention towards approving and releasing our tuition fees to ensure smooth completion of our studies.
“Your Excellency, we have no doubt in your firm resolve to alleviating our current plights. We therefore plead with Your Excellency to come to our rescue as we declare our unalloyed supports to your government and pledge to remain good ambassadors of our dear state in our various countries of residence.
“We are aware of the giant strides your administration has made in all sectors of the economy, including education, and believe the completion of our studies will add to your genuine effort towards boosting the man-power development of our state.
“We look forwards to your prompt response as we continue to pray for the success of your administration and for the realization of all your dreams for our dear state. Thank you and God bless your Excellency.”