The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prevail on the management of federal universities across the country to jettison their plan to increase school fees and levies paid by students.
But the Federal Ministry of Education said the new school fees regime for unity colleges was reviewed by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
NANS gave the warning in a statement by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Giwa Temitope, at the weekend.
The national students’ body said the fee increment by the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, which was announced last Friday; the planned fee hike by other federal universities across the country and federal government colleges, showed what it called insensitivity to the plight of most Nigerians who are going through difficult times.
The statement reads: “It is most ridiculous that the government will be introducing fee increment without thinking of rescuing the over 133 million Nigerians out of multi-dimensional poverty they are in.”
“To us, an increment in school fees will complicate the poverty conditions of most parents and students, and it will increase the number of out-of-school children in the country.
“Before now, some students could not afford the fees and various other levies. Because of that, many of them dropped out of school. What would now happen to students, who are sponsoring themselves and their parents, who have more than one child in school?
“As an association, we believe that the Nigerian government has what it takes to massively fund education and make it accessible, if there is a political will.
“In fact, the student loan that was introduced by the Federal Government is nothing but a sham and a bait to lure Nigerian people into accepting increment in fees payment.
“Beyond the fact that the terms of the loan are ridiculous, history has taught us that not every applicant will be considered.
“And even if all were to be considered, that does not justify fee increment in an economy like ours with a high unemployment index.”
Some documents obtained yesterday from the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja showed that the new school fees regime was approved by the immediate past Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, under ex-President Buhari.
A source in the ministry, who spoke in confidence, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the fees were reviewed across board and not only for JSS 1 pupils.
The source said the uniform was added because of adulterated uniforms procured by parents for their children.
He said this was done to ensure uniformity in dressing, adding that tuition fees in government unity colleges were free while the pupils would pay for other things, such as textbooks, uniform and feeding, for boarding students.
“The news trending now about a hike in school fees was reviewed by the last administration.
“If you check the date on the circular, it was before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office and we released it in May to sensitise parents.
“So, the increase is insignificant, as projected in the media. Truth be told: we don’t charge school fees. Which school will you put your child in and feed him or her for three months with N30,000?
“The overheads in the school system is very poor. They just released money for April two weeks ago. So, it is the money that students pay that is used to augment some things in the school,” the source said.
In 2020, the Federal Government charged N15,000 as boarding fee for new students, bringing the total fee to N50,500.
The government also reviewed the boarding fee to N30,000 in May, thereby bringing the total fee to N100,000.
For returning students, the Federal Government charged N48,500 as total fee in 2020 as against N47,000 in 2023 for boarding students.
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