CITIZENS COMPASS— Police in Abia State have arrested one Dr. Chidi Emenike, the chairman of the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA), the National Institution for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN), Demonstration Nursery, Primary, and Secondary schools in the State.
He was arrested following for allegedly mobilising a protest against outrageous school fees by the management of the School.
It was gathered that the PTA had been battling the institution’s management over the recent increase in tuition and other fees payable by pupils and students, which it described as being above 100 per cent.
It was learnt that the payment of the new fees commenced with the resumption from the mid-term break by the school.
However, the PTA chairman of the institution, Dr. Emenike allegedly directed members of the association to converge on the school gate with their children over the fee increment made by the school management a few months ago.
Parents of the pupils and students, following the directive by the PTA, converged on the school gate with their children, leading to a heavy gridlock on the old Aba-Umuahia highway.
Confusion grew as nobody could enter or leave the school, until policemen from the Eastern Ngwa Division stormed the school and took the PTA chairman away.
Efforts to reach out to the Principal and Headmistress of the two schools were resisted by the Policemen stationed at the gate.
Contacted the Executive Director of the NINLAN, Prof. Ogbonna Onuoha, who stated that he was not aware of the arrest of the PTA chairman by the police. He accused Emenike of inciting parents and their children to storm the institution’s gate with their children and wards, refusing to pay the new fees.
He disclosed that the schools were on a fee drive following the end of the mid-term break and stated that some parents couldn’t pay the fees because of the directive of the PTA chairman. Prof. Onuoha described the increment as highly affordable and below what other schools charge, and urged parents who can’t afford it to consider enrolling their children in other schools.
Addressing the parents at the school gate after his return from the police station, the PTA chairman said he was never arrested, but was invited to explain some issues regarding the presence of his members at the institution’s gate.
He stated that the increment was too high for the parents to afford and tasked the management to accept the old fees.
“There was no arrest. People saw me leaving with the police, but that wasn’t an arrest. I was only invited, and I went there to clear things, and as you can see, I’m here not under chains or keys.”
Emenike, who later publicly addressed the angry parents and his fellow PTA members, urged them to take their children home, while he still pleaded with the school management to reconsider their position and make things right.
A parent who pleaded anonymity urged the school’s management to allow pupils and students to continue paying the old fees until the matter is resolved by the Ministry.
Another parent, Chioma Onwukwe, who said she is a widow, pleaded with the school management to consider the country’s situation and reduce the increase.
—Vanguard
