During a press conference held on Tuesday in Abuja, Mallam Wadatau Madawaki, the state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, underscored the difficulties experienced by these students and stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in addressing their needs.
“The present administration, under the leadership of His Excellency, Dauda Lawal, is committed to addressing the grievances of these students, It is essential to set the record straight and clarify the issues surrounding their sponsorship,” Madawaki stated.
The Matawalle administration facilitated the sponsorship of 93 individuals from Zamfara to pursue various academic programs at the university in 2020, according to his statement.
However, he expressed concerns regarding the sponsorship process, describing it as tainted by "dishonesty and blatant self-interest."
He criticized the absence of a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and the university, emphasizing that "there is no written documentation that specifies the obligations of each party involved in this agreement."
The commissioner also disclosed that a consultant was engaged to manage the students' admissions and arrangements with the university, which included a comprehensive package covering accommodation and meal expenses provided by the university.
“Unfortunately, the students were charged for meals they did not receive, and this has contributed to their hardships,” he added.
Madawaki indicated that the difficulties intensified in 2022 when the Matawalle administration halted financial support for students, resulting in significant financial hardships and mounting debts.
“The previous administration left these students vulnerable to the university's actions, which exploited the inadequate arrangements,” Madawaki expressed.
The commissioner noted that in light of these challenges, Governor Dauda Lawal took decisive measures to improve the situation for students. Following discussions with university officials, the Zamfara State government began disbursing funds to settle outstanding tuition and accommodation fees.
“On November 13, 2023, we transferred N84.7 million to the university to address tuition fees. Furthermore, N30.9 million was allocated to student leaders to assist with accommodation expenses for the upcoming three to six months,” Madawaki reported.
Despite these initiatives, issues with the university's billing practices continued, as Madawaki elaborated on findings from a recent delegation sent to Cyprus to investigate these concerns.
“We identified inconsistencies in the students' accounts and noted that the university had issued deportation orders against some students. The Nigerian Embassy is currently working with the Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs to resolve this issue,” he added.
He also highlighted systemic shortcomings within the university's bursary department, which allegedly failed to provide essential information regarding payments and mismanaged student accounts.
“There are issues of dishonesty and lack of transparency that need to be addressed,” he stated.
He emphasized that in response to these challenges, the Zamfara State government is actively working to restore normalcy for the affected students, including settling overdue fees for accommodation and feeding allowances, as well as renewing expired passports and residency permits.
Additionally, he mentioned that Governor Lawal’s administration has received praise for resolving outstanding scholarship payments for students in India and those attending Crescent University.
“We are committed to rectifying the wrongs of the past administration,” Maigatari concluded, emphasizing the government’s dedication to supporting the educational aspirations of Zamfara indigenes.