“As the new academic session approaches in tertiary institutions nationwide, protests have erupted among the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), parents, and students due to the escalating university fees in the midst of a deteriorating economy.
ASUU, parents, and student organizations have raised concerns about the potential for a significant increase in student dropouts as universities across the country continue to raise their fees.
ASUU’s National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, expressed disapproval of the fee hikes, emphasizing that universities should not be operated as profit-driven commercial entities.
For instance, Obafemi Awolowo University in Osun State recently announced revised fee structures. Fresh students in certain faculties will now pay N151,200, while returning students in the same faculties face a fee of N89,200, compared to the previous year’s N20,100.
Similarly, the University of Benin introduced new fees for full-time undergraduate courses for the 2022/2023 academic session. Science students, who formerly paid N73,000, are now required to pay N190,000, while non-science students must pay N170,000.
This fee increase includes various components such as exam and lab fees, library charges, sports, ICT, counseling, utility, medical charges, accreditation, sanitation, bank/portal charges, development levy, student union dues, orientation brochure, certificate screening, academic gown, and ID card fees.”
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“Non-science students were initially facing a laboratory fee of N10,000, while other fees remained unchanged. However, following discussions between the Students Union Government and the school administration, the fees were revised to N105,000 for non-science students and N115,000 for science students.
Consequently, non-science students will now pay N85,000, while science students will pay N95,000.
The increase in fees has been implemented by several federal universities since the suspension of the ASUU strike in October 2022. These universities, including the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare; University of Maiduguri; Federal University, Dutse; Federal University, Lafia; University of Uyo; Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, among others, attribute the fee hikes to rising learning material costs and the need to adequately fund activities in their institutions.
In 2023, Bayero University, Kano; University of Lagos, Akoka; University of Jos; and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, have also announced fee increases.
The University of Nigeria Nsukka has raised undergraduate fees by 100 percent across all levels, with various faculties having different fee structures.
Students have responded to these fee hikes with protests and demands for fee reductions. The ASUU has emphasized the importance of adequate government funding for education to prevent high dropout rates and ensure quality education in Nigeria.”
SSANU reacts
“The President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed, pointed out the challenging situation of public universities running without adequate government funding. He emphasized that these institutions lack sufficient funds to cover their operating expenses and stated that it’s inevitable for tertiary institutions to raise their fees in the current circumstances.
The leader of SSANU urged the government to prioritize its commitment to universities. He stated that if the government doesn’t want universities to charge fees, it should adequately fund them or consider closing them down. He also expressed that Vice-Chancellors (VCs) are not pleased with fee increases but are compelled to implement them due to financial constraints. He emphasized the need for government funding for universities.
Prof. Samuel Edoumiekumo, the immediate past chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, clarified that universities have the authority to set fees approved by their governing councils. He noted that the government does not provide sufficient overhead funding for universities, making it necessary for students to cover many of these costs.
Afeez Akinteye, Vice-President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, declared that students would protest against these fee hikes. He mentioned that discussions were ongoing to address the issue.
The National Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria cautioned against fee hikes in federal universities, expressing concerns that failure to revert to previous fees would force many students out of school, potentially leading to increased crime rates in the country. They also called on President Bola Tinubu to allocate funds from the removal of petrol subsidies to the education sector.
Parents and students shared their frustrations about the fee increases, citing financial challenges and the potential for students to drop out due to unaffordable fees. They called on the government to reconsider the fee hikes, especially in light of rising living costs.”
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