The Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative (EUYI) has disputed a report alleging that the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, charges students ₦50,000 for certificates, claiming the fee is ₦25,000.
The organisation also said a separate ₦10,000 brochure fee was optional and should not be included in the cost of obtaining a certificate.
In a statement jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Danesi Momoh, and National Secretary, Comrade Igwe Ude-Umanta, EUYI urged Sahara Reporters to verify the figures with the polytechnic’s management and issue a correction or clarification if necessary.
The group questioned the basis for the reported ₦50,000 charge, warning that inaccurate information about educational fees could mislead students and parents, fuel controversy and prompt demands based on unverified figures.
It said transparency and affordability were important in the administration of educational institutions but maintained that public discussions about fees should be based on reliable information.
“The speed of publication should never take precedence over accuracy,” the organisation said, urging journalists to verify claims, seek responses from affected parties and correct material inaccuracies promptly.
EUYI also called on the polytechnic’s management to communicate its approved charges clearly to students, parents and other stakeholders to prevent confusion.
The organisation, however, said its intervention was not intended to shield educational institutions from scrutiny or discourage students from raising legitimate concerns about fees and administrative practices.
It urged students, parents, civil society organisations and the public to exercise caution before accepting or acting on claims that had not been adequately verified.
The actual certificate fee could not be independently confirmed from the information provided in EUYI’s statement. The polytechnic’s management was also not quoted in the statement.
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