Reps Caution Varsities, Unity Schools Against Fees Hike

The House of Representatives has asked federal universities in the country to immediately suspend implementation of increase in tuition fees.

This is sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Aliyu Sani Madaki from Kano at plenary on Tuesday.

Presenting the motion, Madaki said, citing the poor funding of Tertiary Education and rising inflation in the country, Federal Universities across the country increased their tuition fees by tuition fees from 100 percent to 200 percent and hostel charges from 50 percent to 100 percent.

He identified the universities that hiked their fees as Bayero University, Kano (BUK), University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Uyo, University of Maiduguri, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and Federal University, Dutse, among others.

The lawmaker expressed concern that the hike in fees by the universities is happening against the worsening poverty level in the country, inflation and high rate of unemployment and the recent fuel price hike.

Madaki also said, “concerned that the increase could cause disruptions for a number of students who cannot not afford the fees and, while many of them would be forced to defer their studies, others could drop out.

“Worried that the hike may aggravate the already volatile situation in the country as students are already making threats which could lead to an uprising against the Federal Government, with grievous consequences for the country as a whole.

“Also worried that an increased rate of university dropouts may further worsen insecurity in Nigeria as the frustrated students may find the wrong outlets to express their grievances; cognizant that tertiary education is imperative in fostering growth, reducing poverty, and boosting the prosperity of any nation.”

Taking the motion, the House urged the National Universities Commission (NUC) to implement the resolution and mandated the Committee on Tertiary Education and Services (when constituted) to investigate the increase of fees by Federal Universities across the country

Similarly, the House adopted a motion on the need to reverse the recent hike of school fees in Unity Secondary Schools in Nigeria.

Saidu Musa Abdullahi and Kama Nkemkanma sponsored the motion in which they argued that Federal Unity Schools were established to promote national unity and provide quality and affordable education to Nigerian students from different parts of the country, regardless of their socioeconomic background.

According to the lawmakers, “the recently approved increase in school fees for students in Federal Government colleges across the Country by the Federal Ministry of Education has caused anxiety among parents and students who are still grappling with the effects of the economic hardship caused by the recent subsidy removal.

It mandated the committee on basic education (when constituted) to probe the hike in school fees for students of Federal Government Colleges across the Country to ensure that basic education remains accessible and affordable to Nigerians and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.