By Milcah Tanimu

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone D, Southwest, issued a stern warning to both federal and state governments, urging them to reverse the decision to increase tuition fees in higher institutions. Failure to do so, the student body threatened, would lead to economic activities being brought to a standstill in the region.

During a press conference held at Eleyele Road, Sango area, Ibadan, John Alao, the Zone D Coordinator, announced that the government has been given a seven-day ultimatum, set to expire on August 1, 2023.

The news of the fee hike came as a shock to the student community, especially considering the current high cost of petrol, depreciation of the naira, and subsequent increase in the prices of essential goods and services.

Alao presented the following demands on behalf of the South West Zone of NANS:

1. Immediate cessation of all plans to increase tuition fees, with an insistence that those institutions that have already implemented the hike revert to the previous fee structure.
2. A demand for an increase of over 200 per cent in the minimum wage.
3. Allocation of 26 per cent of the budget to the education sector, in line with UNESCO’s recommendations.
4. An insistence that school managements address deficits in infrastructure, research, and staff training before considering any fee increments.
5. A refusal to accept the burden of the failure of the ruling elites falling on Nigerian students.

In response to the reports on the fee increase, the Presidency issued a statement debunking the claims. The Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communication, and Strategy, Dele Alake, clarified that federal universities remain tuition-free. He further stated that President Tinubu’s administration is working on additional measures to ensure accessible education for all, including the implementation of the Students’ Loans Scheme.

The discretionary charges reported by some universities for items such as hostel accommodation, registration, laboratory usage, and others were clarified to be separate from tuition fees.

The statement emphasized President Tinubu’s commitment to providing quality tertiary education for every Nigerian, regardless of their financial situation. In addition to the Students’ Loans Scheme, the government plans to strengthen other mechanisms such as work-study programs, merit-based scholarships, and grants to support indigent students and ensure they can complete their education successfully.

Meanwhile, during the commissioning of the renovated main auditorium of Tafawa Balewa Plaza at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof. David Adewale Oke stressed the need for universities to be granted self-autonomy, suggesting that the current system operates too much like a civil service and should be changed.