These are discretionary charges by each university for hostel accommodation, registration, laboratory and other charges. They are not tuition fees
By Moses Okorie
The federal government has denied media reports alleging that tuition fees for federal universities have been increased.
This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by Dele Alake, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications & Strategy who said the purported increase is a false as tuition fees across all federal universities in Nigeria remain free.
According to him, “It was widely reported earlier this week across some news media outlets that the Federal Government had increased tuition fees in federal universities in the country. These reports are inaccurate and not correct.
“We are aware that some universities have in recent weeks announced increase in the amount payable by students on sundry charges.
“However, the fact remains and we have confirmed that these are discretionary charges by each university for hostel accommodation, registration, laboratory and other charges. They are not tuition fees”.
Alake further said though authorities of the affected universities made some rational increase in other fees, which is at their own discretion, but that has nothing to do with tuition fees.
“Authorities of these universities even made this fact clear enough in explaining the rationale behind these new fees. For avoidance of doubts, federal universities in Nigeria remain tuition-free”.
Alake said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to his promise of ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of the economic situation of their parents, have access to quality tertiary education.
He said in addition to the Students’ Loans Scheme, under the Student Loans Bill signed into law by President Tinubu last month, which will go into implementation ahead of the next academic session in September, the Federal Government will also strengthen other mechanisms to support indigent students.
“Parts of the government’s plans to make sure all diligent students complete their education on time, notwithstanding their parents’ financial situation, include work-study, merit-based scholarships and grants”, Alake said.