UniAbuja denies social media allegations of extortion

The University of Abuja, FCT, has described the reports on social media that it was extorting graduating students preparing for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as untrue and baseless.

Dr. Habib Yakoob, Head, Information and University Relations, said this on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to Yakoob, the allegations are an attempt to skip clearance fees and shortchange the University.

It could be recalled that there have been reports circulating on social media of the illegal payment of clearance fees by some graduating students of the University of Abuja before enrolling in the NYSC program.

Yakoob explained that the verification Department in charge of clearance had all the facts at its disposal.

He added that more than 80 percent of the students had paid, while 15 percent had yet to pay.

“There is nothing illegal about the fees, and the University is very clear on this. Students whose names are not on the accepted Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) jamb lists must pay such a fee.

“While some of those students paid, many others did not, often in an attempt to shortchange the University.

“Though they always thought they had scaled through, at the critical time they need clearance to leave the University, they are made to pay that sum because the verification unit, which is in charge of this clearance, has all the facts at its disposal.

“And most students are aware of this and are complying. At the moment, more than 80 percent of the students have paid, leaving just 15 percent who are expected to pay,” he said.