By: Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson T. Koijee has frowned at the administration of the University of Liberia for its decision to demand graduation fees from graduates, despite the President’s free tuition policy.
1,500 candidates of the University of Liberia (UL) are expected to graduate from the university this week as part of the 103rd Graduation Convocation of the “Halakehmeni” Class.
Addressing a news conference at the headquarters of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CD) on Monday, May 29, 2023, Mayor Koijee disagreed with the university’s decision and further termed it an attempt to undermine the government’s free tuition policy.
“It is an attempt to undermine the free tuition policy; we have a call, and if you don’t want to be in this government, you can go,” he said.
In 2018, President George W. Bush declared a tuition-free policy for all public universities across the country.
In an effort to address the concern, he said they have written the office of the president to authenticate the reasons behind the university’s decision.
Moreover, he wants the issue of the free tuition policy to be enacted into law so that Liberians will benefit even after the regime of President George Weah.
The Monrovia City Mayor wants the Ministry of Education to also intervene, as he believes it’s a burden for the young and struggling students.
“We think asking students to pay $USD300 is something that needs to be speedily and hastily investigated,” he said.
He sees the policy as a relief for Liberians: “Since the president announced the free tuition policy at the University of Liberia, UL has gotten an additional 8.000 students.
Meanwhile, the Mayor congratulated members of the CDC that graduated from the University of Liberia today, extended congratulations to the newly elected president of Nigeria, and described the process that led to his election as a democratic one.
At the same time, he warned government officials against double standards and facilitating against the interests of the government.
He said the party was prepared to mark and shame all of those government officials that have been involved in said act.
As disclosed by the mayor, he wants them to be conscious of the fact that they were brought to the post by the people.
“For those of you in the Foreign Ministry, Justice Ministry, and all of the Ministries, we have responsibilities for a cross section of the people”.
He wants them to work in accordance, especially if they have benefited from the struggle. “If you fail to represent what we want from you, we want to assure you that there will be a perfect touch.
Conspicuously, the Secretary General of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), Jefferson T. Koijee, warned the opposition that power is not transferred on the basis of mere propaganda, and as such, they should show their deliverables.
“That’s not a message to say the people are suffering or we have failed; you should be giving us your records and telling us what you have done,” he said.
He wants Liberians to consider the messengers that are spreading the messages before they make sensitive decisions.
According to him, nothing is stronger than the voice of the people, and as such, they are strongly convinced that Liberians have resolved to re-elect the president.
Jefferson Koijee hailed the people of Liberia for their support of the government and further alluded to the fact that it is said support that is carrying the government.
However, he apologized to supporters of the party who were dissatisfied and admonished them to return to the party for reconciliation.
