By Danjuma Amodu
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Joint Campus Council (JCC), Kogi State Axis, has rejected the additional portal charges recently introduced by the management of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja.
In a statement issued on Thursday, September 18, 2026, and signed by its Chairman, Rtr. Comr. Abdulrazaq Ojonache Adams, the student body described the new fee as an unnecessary financial burden on students who are already paying for ICT services.
NANS JCC said while it recognizes the importance of digital platforms in modern education, imposing a separate portal fee on top of the existing ICT fee is unjustifiable.
The association called on the management of the institution to immediately reverse and withdraw the charges in the interest of students’ welfare.
It also directed students of the polytechnic not to pay the new fee pending the resolution of the matter, urging them to remain calm and law-abiding.
According to the statement, the NANS JCC Chairman has given the polytechnic management a five-day ultimatum to rescind the decision, warning that failure to do so will lead to the relocation of the NANS JCC leadership and its executives to the institution’s premises for further engagement.
The council reaffirmed its commitment to constructive dialogue and the protection of students’ interests.
The dispute is not the first over sundry charges at the institution. In September 2025, the Polytechnic management reviewed school fees for the first time since 2018 for new students of the 2025/2026 academic session, citing prevailing economic realities, including hike in petrol and diesel prices. The decision sparked a planned protest, forcing management to convene an interactive session with the SUG, NANS JCC, NAPS, NAKOSS, and security agencies to avert unrest.
In the past, the institution had also introduced additional levies described by management as result verification, convocation, entrepreneurship centre and insurance fees, which students had similarly described as an extra financial burden.
NANS JCC said the current portal charge follows the same pattern and should be withdrawn.
