House Urges NUC to Halt Increase in School Fees by Federal Varsities

Juliet Akoje in Abuja

The House of Representative, has urged the National Universities Commission (NUC) to immediately halt the implementation of the increase of fees by federal universities in Nigeria.

The House has also mandated its Committee on Tertiary Education and Services (when constituted) to investigate the increase of fees by Federal Universities across the country with a view to finding lasting solutions to the challenges in the tertiary education sector.

These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion calling to suspend the implementation of increase in tuition fees of universities moved by Hon. Aliyu Sani Madaki at plenary yesterday.

Madaki noted that citing the poor funding of Tertiary Education and rising inflation in the country, Federal Universities across the country increased their tuition fees by  100% to 200% while hostel fees were increased from 50% to 100%.

“The Universities that hiked their fees include Bayero University, Kano (BUK), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the University of Uyo, University of Maiduguri, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and Federal University, Dutse, among others.

“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.”

He, however, stressed 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.