More Nigerian Varsities Consider Increment In Tuition Fees, NANS Considers Next Moves

Cursory: Although UNN students are still protesting the increment in school fees, it has been revealed that some federal universities are currently considering raising tuition fees for students. Lecturers said the FG does not properly fund schools anymore so the management is improvising.

Amidst cries for increased funding of institutions, some federal universities are currently considering raising tuition fees for students. ALLSCHOOL had reported that the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, increased tuition fees by 100 percent while hostel fees were increased by 50 per cent.

Although, students are still protesting against the school fees hike, PUNCH investigation indicates that the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, and Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, Bauchi State, have already announced up to 100 per cent hike in fees also since the suspension of the eight months strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Other federal universities considering increase in the school fees include Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, University of Maiduguri and the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.Though the management of the three schools had yet to make the decisions public, an academic staff member at UNIMAID said the fees paid by students could no longer sustain the university, hence the need for the increment.

“This is one of the reasons ASUU is fighting the government. If the money won’t come from the government, the money has to come from somewhere else. The management is thinking of hiking the fees. It is the only way out,” the lecturer stated.

At the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, it was learnt that the school was planning to increase school fees to N80,000 for old students.

However, at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare in Bauchi State, a memo issued by the Registrar, A. A. Adamu on behalf of the management of the institution revealed that first year students for Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry, Nursing, Radiography, Nutrition and Dietetics would now pay over N300,000 as tuition fees, according to the report.

According to the memo, first year students of Medicine and Dentistry will pay N351,000 per session, while those of Nursing, Radiography, Nutrition and Dietetics are expected to pay N331,000 per session.The school, however, noted that the students were free to pay in two instalments of 60 per cent upfront for the first semester and 40 per cent for the second semester.

Findings also revealed that FUTO was set to announce a hike in fees.The Public Relations Officer of the Students Representatives Council of the school, Bright Onyekachukwu, however, disclosed that talks were ongoing between the management of the institution and the SRC.The university’s tuition fee, which was around N39,300 for old students, is set to be increased to between N72,000 and N75,000.“We’re doing everything possible to make sure that we solicit support on behalf of FUTO students as the school increases her fees to between N72, 000 and N75,000, Onyekachukwu said,

Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students has accused the Federal Government of planning to hike tuition fees for tertiary education students across the country following simultaneous announcement of fee hikes by at least three institutions.

NANS had in August in the midst of the strike by ASUU alleged that the Federal Government failed to meet some of the demands of the union because of plans to hike the tuition fees.

Read Also: UNN Students Protest 100% Hike in School Fees

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