Following the ASUU’s long-term strike action’s resumption, Nigerian federal government-run universities students have yet again encountered academic challenges. Most universities have increased tuition from between 100 to 200 percent, which has left some students distraught. Some impoverished students may be forced to drop out, while others may have to defer their education for at least a year. Nonetheless, academic institutions have blamed the rise in tuition fees on the lack of funding from the government.
Institutions also blame the continuous rising inflation in the country, which has skyrocketed to 21.47 percent, the highest in 17 years – in November 2022. Among the universities that have announced the increment include the University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom state, the Federal University of Lafia in Nasarawa state, Michael Okpara the University of Agriculture, Umudike in Abia state, the Federal University, Dutse, in Jigawa state and the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) in Borno state, among others.
Dutse university announced a 200% increase in tuition.
In a document dated December 2022 and signed by the university’s Deputy Registrar (Academics), Kamal Habib Muhammad, the administration of Federal University, Dutse, announced a 200 percent increase in tuition. However, it specified that payments might be split into two halves and that employees’ children would be eligible for reductions. Meanwhile, Linda Jimoh, a student in the varsity department of political science, laments the increment. She said the initial charge of NGN37,000 was tough to pay, and that the current amount of NGN97,000 is much more so.
Additionally, UNIMAID said in a message to students that the rise is due to market factors driving up the expense of teaching and learning materials, as well as laboratory consumables and reagents. As stated in the paper, the decision to charge international students an extra US$1,500 in tuition was made by the university’s governing council during its 157th meeting on December 1, 2022. Ibrahim Ismail, a 300-level English and Literary Studies major, expressed his displeasure with the school’s 100% increase in tuition.
NANS sought President Muhammadu Buhari’s intervention.
Furthermore, the increase comes as the country’s poverty levels rise owing to soaring inflation and increasing unemployment. NBS reports that 133 million, or almost half of Nigeria’s 206 million people, are in multidimensional poverty. Also, the World Bank reported in March 2022 that four out of every ten Nigerians live below the national poverty level. The vast majority of Nigerians choose to take advantage of significantly reduced tuition at federally funded universities. A study from 2022 estimates that 1,206,825 (65%) of the total 1,854,288 students that have enrolled in federal government universities, 544,936 (29%) in state universities, and 102,500 (6%) in private universities.
In response to the issue, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has slammed the increment and sought President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene before things get out of hand. In a letter to Buhari sent at the beginning of January, NANS expressed concerns that the majority of students attending public institutions come from low-income households and would thus struggle to pay the higher tuition. The universities are not only heartless but also callous to the predicament of their students, it added.
Government had previously considered raising tuition fees.
While commenting on the situation, Professor Salihu Moyosore Ajao, chairman of the University of Ilorin chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), claimed that the government had previously considered raising tuition fees to address the inadequate funding of universities, but the idea was rejected by the union. Prof. Ajao said that the union has repeatedly opposed the commercialization of the educational system, notably at the country’s higher institutions, but that the union’s actions were misconstrued as being antagonistic against the government.
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Students alarmed as tuition fee rise – Some impoverished students may be forced to drop out of school. – Express your point of view.
Tuition fees are increasing sporadically because the government has failed in their duty to help the educational sector. Although we still need to pay a credible fee because education is also expensive.
Students attending Nigerian universities that are run by the federal government are once again facing difficulties in their academic careers as a direct result of the restart of the ASUU’s protracted strike action.
The lack of funds from the government has been cited as the primary reason for the increase in tuition prices by academic institutions.
Students who are living in poverty may be required to discontinue their education altogether, while others may be required to postpone it for at least one year.
There is a possibility that payments may be cut in half, and discounts would be made available to employees whose children have children of their own.
The increase is a result of market forces that are driving up the cost of instructional and scholastic supplies.
The government is not fulfilling its responsibility to assist the educational sector, which has resulted in unpredictable increases in the cost of tuition.
The colleges are not only insensitive toward the plight of their students, but they are also indifferent about the matter.
Recently, the display of the govt towards the educational sector has shown they no longer have concerns in the sector. As a result, some students may be forced to drop out of school and in turn it will be a disadvantage to the country .
This institutions are not even considering the positions of the students before implementing their directives. Majority are middle class are may not be able to afford such multiplier on the tuition fees.
Tuition fees rise some student might have no choice but to drop out of school which is not good normal fees some people are struggling to pay it now the fees is now increase they won’t be able to afford it something need to be done if not student will be drop out of school due to enough fund to school
Students alarmed as tuition fee rise. Everything in Nigeria is rising too much. We have vote wisely to stop this inflation
The rate at which students tuition age been increased is on the rise and needs to be attended to because the level of suffering in the country is quiet alarming
The government’s behavior toward the educational sector has demonstrated that they are no longer worried about it. As a result, some kids might be forced to leave school, which would be bad for the nation as a whole.
The government has fallen short of its responsibility to support the educational sector, which is why tuition fees are fluctuating. The cost of schooling is equally high, therefore we must still pay a reasonable amount. Other nations with excellent educational systems rely on more than simply government support.
A country like ours that should encourage more children to go to school are the same set discouraging them. The rise in tuition fee will only make many to drop out of school due to the impoverishing state of the country. This may lead to more criminalities in the society.
The increase in university tuition fee will of course push so students out of school due to the present state of the country economy that has impoverished more people.
The government no longer seems concerned about education. Thus, some students may drop out, which will hurt the nation.
The government has shown they no longer care about education. Thus, some youngsters may have to drop out, which would hurt the nation.
The government is not fulfilling its responsibility to assist the educational sector, which has resulted in unpredictable increases in the cost of tuition. Despite this, we are still required to pay a respectable amount because receiving an education is not cheap.