Graduates of Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State have expressed outrage over the institution’s alleged ₦50,000 certificate collection fee, describing the charge as excessive and calling on the Rector and management to urgently review it.
The affected graduates questioned why the federal institution charges such a high amount for certificate collection when other federal polytechnics and universities reportedly charge significantly lower fees for the same service.
Some of the graduates, who spoke to ChroniclesReporters on condition of anonymity, said the fee had placed an additional financial burden on former students, many of whom are struggling to secure employment amid Nigeria’s economic hardship.
They urged the institution’s management to explain the rationale behind the charge and consider reducing it to make certificate collection more affordable for graduates who have already spent years paying tuition fees and other compulsory charges to complete their studies.
One of the affected graduates questioned why Auchi Polytechnic’s alleged certificate collection fee was substantially higher than the amounts reportedly charged by other tertiary institutions across the country.
“We are trying to find out why Auchi Polytechnic’s certificate collection fee is so high compared to other federal polytechnics and universities. Auchi is a federal polytechnic, and we are still wondering why we have to pay such a fee to collect our certificates,” the graduate said.
The graduate said comparisons with other institutions had raised concerns about the justification for the amount being demanded, particularly because Auchi Polytechnic is federally owned.
According to the graduate, payment documents obtained from other institutions indicated considerably lower certificate-related charges.
The graduate cited the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, in Adamawa State, where a payment document reportedly showed a certificate-related payment of ₦20,161.25.
The graduate also referenced the Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, in Akwa Ibom State, which was said to charge ₦5,000 each for National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) certificates, as well as the University of Benin (UNIBEN), where the reported certificate collection fee was ₦18,000.
The graduate argued that the differences raised questions about the justification for the alleged ₦50,000 fee at Auchi Polytechnic.
“From our investigation, no school in northern Nigeria pays such an amount for certificate collection. A four-year programme with two certificates, and federal universities like UNIBEN charge ₦18,000 to collect theirs,” the graduate said.
“I can tell you categorically that no northern polytechnic pays such an amount for certificate collection.”
The graduate specifically compared Auchi Polytechnic with the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, arguing that both institutions operate within the federal polytechnic system but reportedly charge different amounts for certificate collection.
“This is a school from the northern part of the country with the same standard as Auchi Polytechnic, yet it is paying less,” the graduate said.
“Ukana Federal Polytechnic in Akwa Ibom collects ₦5,000 for ND and HND certificates each. Why is Auchi different?”
The graduates said the alleged fee had become a source of frustration for former students who need their certificates to secure employment, pursue further education, obtain professional registration and meet other official requirements.
They maintained that academic certificates are essential documents that graduates need to demonstrate their qualifications and should not be made difficult to obtain because of charges they consider excessive.
The complaint has also highlighted the financial difficulties facing young Nigerians who have completed their studies but remain unemployed or underemployed.
Some of the affected graduates said it was unfair to demand ₦50,000 from former students who might not have a steady source of income, adding that many parents had made significant financial sacrifices to support their children’s education.
One of the graduates questioned how a person still searching for employment could reasonably be expected to pay such an amount simply to obtain an academic certificate.
“How can a student who is still looking for a job be forced to pay ₦50,000 just to collect his certificate? The University of Benin is not charging up to that amount. How come a polytechnic is charging as if they want to give you a job?” the graduate asked.
The graduate said the situation had left affected former students questioning why a federal polytechnic would impose a certificate collection fee they considered significantly higher than the charges reportedly imposed by some universities and other federal polytechnics.
The graduates stressed that their complaint was not against the institution’s responsibility to maintain and administer academic records but against what they described as an excessive financial demand for obtaining certificates confirming qualifications they had already earned.
They argued that graduates had fulfilled the academic and financial requirements necessary to complete their programmes and should not face additional financial pressure when seeking documents needed to advance their careers.
The affected former students appealed to the Rector to intervene and direct an urgent review of the alleged ₦50,000 charge.
They also urged the institution’s management to provide a detailed explanation of the components of the fee and clarify why it differs so significantly from the amounts reportedly charged by other tertiary institutions.
The graduates called on the management and relevant authorities to consider a more affordable arrangement, particularly for former students who have yet to secure employment after leaving school.
They maintained that reducing the fee would ease the financial burden on graduates and their families while allowing former students to obtain their academic documents without unnecessary hardship.