By Oluwatosin Maliki
Tertiary institutions across the country have witnessed a tsunami hike in tuition fees accross the federation as parents, guardians and of course students bear the pain admist the dwindling economy of the country.
This is coming in the midst of fuel subsidy removal and soaring inflation in a country where minimum wage of a civil servant stands at N30,000.
Most Universities have already announced hike in their tuition fees and other fees payable in their institution by up to 300% .
The tuition fees hike followed announcement of students’ loan program by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu few days after his swearing-in.
However, so far some universities have openly announced hike in their tuition fees and other fees payable in the school.
The management’s of these Universities have justified their decisions as they point at the economic challenges in the country.
Some of the universities that have reviewed their school fees are listed below:
1. University of Lagos (UNILAG), Lagos
The University of Lagos, UNILAG, where the fee payable by students was jerked up from N19,000 to N190,250, the management introduced payment in instalments by students and even advised them to seek sponsorship.
In a statement on the official social handles of the institution, the school said it took the decision in the face of the current economic situation in the country and urged current and new students to take note of the measures.
After much protests from UNILAG students, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Folasade Ogunsola reviewed the tuition fees.
The management stated, “After careful evaluation of the issues raised by the students and management, the following consensus was reached at the meeting: Utility Charges for all categories of students was reduced to N15,000:00 from N20,000:00.
“The obligatory fees for new undergraduate students was reviewed from N126,325:00 to N116,325:00 for Courses without Lab/Studio and N176,325:00 to N166,325:00 for Courses with Lab/Studio.
“The obligatory fees for returning undergraduate students was reviewed from N100,750:00 to N80,750:00 for Courses without Lab/Studio; N140,250:00 to N120,250:00 for Courses with Lab/Studio; and from N190,250:00 to N170, 250:00 for Medical / Pharmacy students and students in Health Professions.
“The Convocation Fee to be paid by all final year students was reduced to N27,000:00 from N 30,000:00. Hostels fees were reviewed as follows: For undergraduate hostels in Akoka and Yaba campuses, the fees was reduced to N43, 000:00 from N90,000:00.
“For hostels in Idi-Araba campus, the fees was reduced to N65,000:00 from N120,000:00. The fees for Sodeinde Hall was reduced to N135,000:00 from N250,000:00.”
2. University of Jos (UNIJOS), Plateau
Thousands of University of Jos (UniJos) students staged a peaceful protest over 300 percent increment in school fees.
According to new school fees chat signed by the Registrar of the university, Dr. Rejoice James Songden said N213,000 fee is for 100 and 200 level students while the 300 level students and above will now pay N160,000.
It was later reviewed to N110,000 and N140,000 respectively. Yet, many students could not afford to pay.
According to a letter from the Student Union Government (SUG) signed by Hon. Yisa Victor Baba , the student Union government is negotiating with the management of UniJos with a view to further review the school fees downward.
3. Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Osun
Previously, returning students paid between N19,000 and N31,000 while freshers paid between N70,000 and N100,000 depending on facilities.
According to the newly approved fees, newly admitted students into the faculties of Arts, Law and Humanities will pay N151,200 while returning students will pay N89,200.
For those in the faculties of Technology and Science, the new students would pay N163,200 while returning students are to pay N101,200.
New students admitted into the faculties of the College of Health Sciences and Pharmacy are to pay N190,200 while returning students would pay N128,200.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Bamire have heard the cry of it’s students and as a result a graciously slashed it’s tuition fees.
According to management, “For the students in Humanities, the initial sundry charges of #89, 200 for returning students have been reduced to #76,000 while the new students in the Humanities, the initial fees of #151,200 have been reduced to #131,000.
“For those in the Sciences and Technology, the initial charges of #101,200, for returning students is now #86,000 while the new students in the same Faculties will now pay #141,000 instead of the initial #163,200.
“In the same vein, the returning students in the Pharmacy and College of Health Sciences will now pay #109,000, instead of #128,200. The new students in the same Faculties will now pay #164,000 instead of the initial charges of #190,000,” the statement partly read.
4. University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu
Students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, have protested the 100 percent hike in their school fees.
The University’s management had published a memo specifying categories of fees to be paid by its students.
The memo indicated that fresh students across the faculties in the university are to pay a consolidated fee of N114,650 – N120,650, while older students are expected to pay between N85,000 – N95,000.
It was gathered that before the new development, old students in the institution paid a fee of N40,000, and new students N83,000.
5. Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State
The state-owned University announced a 300% increment in school fees following the signing of the student loan bill. This has led to a protest in the school, and students are calling for the sack of the university vice-chancellor.
In the university owned by the Edo State government, law students are now expected to pay N741,500 as against N185, 000 that was paid in the previous year, while medical students would be paying N638,000 as against N216,000 because of the increment.
6. Bayero University, Kano (BUK)
Shortly after President Tinubu signed the Student Loan Bill into law, BUK is one of the federal universities that announced a 100% increment in its tuition fee. It was gathered that students of the Faculties of Arts, Islamic Studies, Law, Social Sciences and Management Sciences pay N95,000, and new students will pay N105,000 as against N39, 000 which was paid in the previous year.
7. University of Benin (UNIBEN)
UNIBEN is one of the federal universities that have announced over 100% tuition fee increment following the signing of the student loan bill by President Bola Tinubu. Science students in the institution were to pay N190,000 against N73,000 that was paid in the previous year, while non-science students would pay N170,000 against N69,000 in the last years.
8. Federal University, Dutse
Federal University, Dutse, reportedly announced a 200 per cent increase in tuition fees contained in a memo issued in December 2022.
To ease the financial burden, the varsity allowed payment of fees in two instalments of 60 per cent and 40 per cent per semester, respectively.
9. University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID)
The University of Maiduguri said it hiked associated fees due to rising inflation in the country. See below, the breakdown of new tuition fees announced by the varsity:
New students Medicine – N252,500.
New students Medical Laboratory and Nursing – N136,500.
New students Anatomy – N162,500.
New students Physiotherapy – N131,500. New students Radiography – N133,500. Old students in the Faculty of Basic and Medical Sciences – Between N112,000 and N258,000 Federal.
10. University, Lafia (FULafia)
The Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa state, has also reportedly increased registration fees by students to as high as N150,000 for some programmes. Among others, students in Medicine will pay N150,000 as departmental registration fees. Meanwhile, the registration fee is not part of the tuition fees to be paid by the students.
11. University of Uyo (UniUyo)
Returning students of the University of Uyo used to pay N50,000. However, the fee has now been reportedly increased to over N100,000.
Among others, new Medical students will pay N105,750, while returning Medical students would pay N107,750. New and old students in the Faculty of Education will pay N75,750 and N77,750, respectively. Returning students in the Faculty of Social Sciences will pay N107,750, while new students will pay N105,750.
12. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, also hiked its tuition fee, blaming the development on the escalating cost of providing services. The university also announced the development in December 2022.
13. Federal University, Dutse
Federal University Dutse, reportedly announced a 200 per cent increase in tuition, in a memo issued in December 2022.
To ease the financial burden, the varsity allowed payment of fees in two instalments of 60 per cent and 40 per cent per semester, respectively.
It also announced discounts for the children of its workers.
14. Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto
Sokoto State raised their student fees as well.
The second generation in the Seat of the Caliphate increased tuition prices for law students from N56,000 to N86,300 (for final year students) to N86,3000 and N48,000 to N73,000, while medical students’ fees were hiked to N109,000 from roughly N60,000 to N70,000.
15. Taraba State University (TSU), Taraba
In a memo signed by the Confidential Secretary to Registrar of the institution, Sebastian Anthony, indicated that indigenes from the Social and Management Sciences who hitherto pay N44,000 per session will now pay N70,000 per session, while non-indigenes who pay N68,000 per session will now pay N90,000 per session.