Over 100% Fee Increases Spark Outcry As House Of Reps Demands Federal Government Intervention

The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to suspend recent increases in school fees and compulsory charges imposed by public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across Nigeria.

The lawmakers expressed concern that the rising cost of tertiary education could place additional financial pressure on students and families, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, potentially limiting access to higher education.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the resolution followed a motion sponsored by Hon. Ifeoluwa Ehindero, who drew attention to reports that some public tertiary institutions had increased school fees and other mandatory charges by more than 100 per cent.

Ehindero argued that the increases were introduced without adequate consultation and sufficient consideration of the economic difficulties confronting many Nigerian households.

In response, the House directed its committees on University Education, Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education, and Federal Colleges of Education to investigate the reported increases and determine whether the new charges were justified.

The lawmakers noted that education remains a critical driver of national development. They also referenced Section 18 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires the government to work towards ensuring equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels.

The House further raised concerns that sharp increases in tuition and other compulsory charges could undermine the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), a scheme established to provide interest-free loans to eligible students who require financial assistance to pursue tertiary education.

According to the lawmakers, the scheme was designed around the existing tuition fees and cost structures of participating institutions. They warned that substantial increases could create funding gaps and leave students requiring greater financial support than the scheme was originally structured to provide.

The lawmakers cautioned that unchecked fee increases could force students from financially disadvantaged families to abandon their studies, trigger unrest on campuses and weaken public confidence in the government’s commitment to making education more accessible.

To address the situation, the House urged the Federal Government to increase financial support for public tertiary institutions to reduce their dependence on tuition fees and other charges to fund their operations.

It also called on the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission to engage with the managements of public tertiary institutions and seek the suspension of the increases.

The lawmakers further advocated a comprehensive review of school fee structures, taking prevailing economic conditions and the financial circumstances of Nigerian families into account.

The relevant committees are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the fee increases and establish whether the additional charges are necessary and justified.

The proposed intervention is intended to protect students from being priced out of higher education and ensure that rising educational costs do not undermine the objectives of NELFUND.