Dr. Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, stated that although some international students are prohibited from bringing dependents, those enrolled in PhD programs are still allowed to bring dependents into the country.

Montgomery shared this information during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

He mentioned that the policy change, which was implemented earlier this year, prohibits international students in higher education from bringing dependents to the UK.

According to him, this decision was made to address the growing issue of many foreign students bringing dependents.

He noted that the unsustainable pressure on numerous universities due to the influx of dependents led to the introduction of these policy changes.

He pointed out that university Chancellors had raised concerns about the large student populations, specifically noting challenges such as limited accommodation, access to medical services through the National Health Service, and schooling for dependents.

Montgomery explained that the restrictions are not universal, highlighting that those pursuing long-term research degrees, such as PhDs or doctorates, are exempt from these limitations.

“Those coming to the UK for doctorate can still bring their dependency but if you are coming to the UK with a study visa for an undergraduate degree, or short term master’s degree am afraid the rules have been changed.

“People need to understand why this change was brought in, and it is a sensible change because we have a large higher education sector and most of these universities are in towns across the country.

“I really like the demand but there are other factors at play in terms of schooling in the UK , the value of the Naira in the coming months will also determine how easy or hard it will be for many people to afford our education.

“But I really hope that the number of people who bring dependents in UK may actually not be a majority, but a minority of people have tried to study in the UK so am hoping that the demand will be sustained,” he said.

Kaduna State University (KASU) says its students defaulting on paying their fees will be allowed to write exams.

The KASU management, in a statement, said the move is following the directive of Uba Sani, the governor of Kaduna state

It said the directive is to mitigate the impact of current economic challenges on its student population.

Muhammad Lawal Shehu, chief press secretary to the state governor, confirmed the directive in a statement to newsmen on Sunday.

Shehu said the directive shows Sani’s administration is committed to promoting inclusive and equitable access to education.

He said parents and guardians are encouraged to ensure that all outstanding debts owed to KASU are settled.

“The governor recognizing the current dire economic realities facing many businesses, families and individuals in the nation, has directed that the school management extend the deadline for the full payment of tuition fees,” the CSP said.

“This is to allow students to write examinations.

“As their guardians and parents make adequate plans to complete any pending tuition fees owed to the institution.

“This directive underscores the administration’s commitment to promoting inclusive and equitable access to education.

It will ensure that every student has the chance to excel academically regardless of their financial circumstances.”

The Management of the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) says academic and administrative activities on campus will go on despite a reported strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The Vice-Chancellor (VC) of UniAbuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, said this at a meeting with the Provost, Deans, Directors and Heads of academic departments.

A statement from the meeting, signed by Dr Habib Yakoob, the Acting Director, Information and University Relations, was made available to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.

The vice chancellor described the strike as divisive and unnecessary, vowing that the management would never allow the university to be crippled again.

“As far as the management of the university is concerned, this institution is not on strike.

“Some people said they have declared a strike but all of us with the management have decided that our normal activities in the university must go on.

“Our exam is going on, the senate meeting will continue, everything we do as a university will continue, and our calendar will not be disrupted any longer by the grace of God.

“It is wrong to cripple the university over issues that are merely sentimental and some of which we have dialogued over and resolved, we are prepared not to allow this disruption again,” he said.

He debunked all the reported allegations of the union which they claimed informed its declaration of indefinite strike.

“Take for instance, the advert for the position of the vice-chancellor, we are not the only university that has advertised, we had the support and approval of the government.

“The advert was done by the Minister of Education, all I did as vice-chancellor was to request, to ask for what is next and they decided this is what we must do.

“And if you look at the advertisement from the beginning, this fact is very clear. It is only that they had to send it to us for execution that is all,” he explained.

He also described the union’s allegations of illegal recruitment, promotion, delay in the election of deanship, and microfinance bank establishment as unfounded, adding that the university had followed due process in handling all these matters.

He said the university ensured that relevant institutions concerned with oversights were contacted.

On the issue of the election of deans and establishment of microfinance banks, he disclosed that the elections timetable had long been publicised.

He explained that the elections of four deans had been conducted so far.

Na’Allah also said that the university management had invested over N200 million in the proposed Microfinance Bank over the ASUU’s N4 million.

He said the investment had been made before the union wrote directly to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop granting the license for our operation.

The vice-chancellor said his administration had been working hard to develop the university and would not fold its arms and allow a group of people to destabilise its calendar.

“For over four years, our goal has been to lift this university much higher than it was, and this we have succeeded in doing by taking our academic and infrastructural developments to a world-class level.”