Al-Asas College of Health Technology, Minna's management has dismissed recent extortion claims related to fees charged to Pharmacy Technician students for their ongoing national examinations.
The allegations, which Sahara Reporters published, claim that students were charged a total of N304,000, with breakdowns including N70,000 for indexing, N180,000 for national exams, N30,000 for conduct fees, and N24,000 for transportation to and from Gombe State, where the examinations took place.
The college management, however, clarified that these claims are grossly exaggerated and misleading, stating that the college authority collected 70,000 for the index and 180,000 for National examinations only.
He added that the 30,000 and 24,000 were the contributions they made for their transportation and other logistics, which were collected by the student leader but entirely their decision, not the college authority.
According to the college administration, the fees collected aligned with the necessary expenses required for the national exams, including accommodation, transportation, and logistics for the students' trip to Gombe.The N304,000 figure is a combination of several costs essential to ensuring the student's success in the exams, which include necessary administrative charges and not an arbitrary amount as reported.
The school director, Muhammaddeen Muhammad, who personally accompanied the students to Gombe, collapsed due to a health condition and was rushed to the hospital.
This medical emergency rendered him unable to respond to calls at the time, including those from the reporter. Despite his condition, the story was published without verification from the college authorities.
A senior staff member explained that the director have not recovered in Gombe when the story was publish as claimed by the reporter.
They also emphasized that all fees were transparently communicated to students before the trip, covering necessary costs like accommodation and transportation, which is standard practice for such external examinations.
The school management vehemently denies any form of extortion, stressing that the fees are within regulatory limits and were communicated openly to students.
They urged the public to disregard the unfounded claims and called on media outlets to engage in responsible reporting by verifying their information before publication.
The college administration remains committed to supporting its students and ensuring that the financial arrangements for national exams are conducted fairly and in accordance with established guidelines.
