As tertiary institutions across the country resumed yesterday after about seven months of closure to check the spread of Covid-19, the authorities of more state and federal universities are hiking tuition fees.
Businessday can confirm that some of the institutions have already begun the implementation of the hiked fees. According to our findings, no fewer than four universities have so far increased their tuition fee this year with the claim of augmenting the schools’ finances to meet pressing needs.
Recall that the permanent secretary, federal ministry of education, Sonny Echono, had argued that parents’ claim of fee increment was untrue, asking Nigerians to disregard the media report and support government’s effort to revamp the education system.
Echono said government was working towards a means to generate funding opportunities for the institutions.
“I must confirm to you that government has no plan to increase tuition fees in Nigerian universities as being claimed by parents. There might be gaps in funding the education sector, particularly the universities, but the claim of such increase in tuition fees by parents is untrue.
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“However, I can confirm that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the federal ministries of education and finance to develop a workable plan that would herald increase in funding opportunities for the institutions.”
Echono disclosed that the education ministry had revisited its plans to establish an education bank that would give low interest loans to interested students and parents to fund their education needs.
But it is clear that the planned fee hike by the various universities is progressing in a subtle way and without the federal ministry of education calling them to order.
The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology increased its tuition fee by 60 percent.
In a statement, the institution’s registrar, Joseph Agboola, said that with effect from the 2020/2021 academic session, indigene students of the owner states (Oyo and Osun) will pay N250, 000 per session while non-indigenes will pay N300, 000.
Prior to the new tuition regime, as gathered, students of Oyo and Osun states origin paid N73, 500 per session, while nonindigenes paid N82, 500.
The current 100 level students, after a long strike, were instructed to pay N120, 000 (indigenes) and N150, 000 (non-indigenes) as part of the resolution by the institution. All students, both new and old, are to pay the same amount, according to the new fee on resumption.
Similarly, the management of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Akoko, Ondo State, increased tuition fee from N75, 000 to N200, 000. It was stated that while fresh students in the faculties of arts and education were to pay N150, 000, returning students were to pay N120, 000. Fresh students in the faculties of science, agriculture, social and management sciences, were to pay N180, 000 and the returning students N150, 000. Fresh students in the faculty of law were asked to pay N200, 000 and the returning students, N150, 000. The increment was, however, resisted by parents and other stakeholders.
“This cannot be feasible without a slight adjustment in accommodation charges and in some fees items payable by students in some faculties.”
He said the increase in accommodation fee only affected all students who desire to stay in the halls of residence, adding that “residency in the halls of residence is optional.’’
Afraid of the unfolding development as the remaining 2019/2020 academic session kick-off, parents and students are pleading with the Federal Government to intervene before all the other institutions jump on the bandwagon.
According to them, as the institutions are increasing fees to fit into the economy, they also are seeking subsidised fees to enable them to cater to their other social needs.
A civil servant, Olawale Idris, who has two of her sons in two different universities, said her children, had to go to school in spite of the increased fees, but the Federal Government should intervene.
He said, “We all know that education is not free as claimed in Nigeria. If the government is saying education is free, it means they are liars. If the increment is outrageous, there is nothing we can do. We want the best. State universities’ fees are outrageous.
