Tension rose in Umuahia on Thursday as concerned natives of the Ihie Ndume community, under the Umuahia East constituency, marched to the Abia State House of Assembly to protest what they described as “outrageous” school fees at Government College Umuahia (GCU).
Led by Nathaniel Nwoko, President of the Abia State chapter of the Common Man Assembly, the protesters lamented that GCU—once a beacon of public education—was gradually being transformed into a private school, locking out brilliant children from underprivileged backgrounds.
“We can’t afford N1 million for school fees. That’s too much,” Nwoko said passionately. “We’re calling on Governor Alex Otti to intervene. Government College should remain a public school and be accessible to every intelligent child, regardless of their family’s financial status.”
The demonstrators urged the state government to reclaim involvement in the school’s management and ensure fees are reduced to affordable levels.
Addressing the angry crowd, Hon. Okoro Uchenna Kalu, Chairman of the House Committee on Education, assured them that their concerns are being reviewed and that Governor Otti is already looking into the issue. Also speaking, Deputy Speaker Austin Meregini, who represents the protesters’ constituency, pleaded with them to return home peacefully, promising the House would act in the best interest of the people.
Further reports revealed that Mr. Chukwudi Onwudinanti, an indigene of Emede Ibeku, had also submitted a petition to the House, accusing the current management, Fisher Education Development Trust (FEDT), of turning GCU into a private institution with fees exceeding N1 million annually.
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