Reps ask FG to suspend school fee hikes, probe 100% increases
- The House of Representatives urged the Federal Government to suspend recent fee increases at public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
- Lawmakers mandated committees to investigate hikes of more than 100 per cent and their effect on NELFUND loans.
- The House also asked for higher subventions to public institutions so they rely less on student charges.
The House of Representatives has asked the Federal Government to suspend recent school fee increases at public tertiary institutions and ordered an investigation into how far those fees have risen, Vanguard reported.
The resolution followed a motion by Hon. Ifeoluwa Ehindero, who said some public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education had raised fees and other compulsory charges by more than 100 per cent. He said the increases came without wide consultation and without enough regard for the economic pressure on Nigerian families.
Lawmakers also directed the committees on University Education, Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education, and Federal Colleges of Education to look into the increases and decide whether they are justified.
Why it matters to students
The House warned that sudden fee hikes could weaken the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the federal interest-free loan scheme for students who cannot pay. The scheme was built around existing tuition levels, so sharp increases could leave students borrowing more or dropping out.
Lawmakers said unchecked increases could widen the gap between rich and poor students, push more students out of school, spark unrest on campuses and shake public confidence in the government's promise of affordable education. They pointed to Section 18 of the 1999 Constitution, which requires government to ensure equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels.
The House urged the Federal Government to raise subventions to public tertiary institutions so they depend less on money collected from students. It also asked the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to engage school managements on suspending the increases and reviewing tuition in line with current economic realities.
The sources did not say which institutions raised fees, by how much in naira, or when the increases took effect. They also did not give a date for the committee investigation or say whether the Federal Government has responded to the House's call.
What happens next
The committees are expected to investigate the increases and report back to the House. Whether the Federal Government and the institutions will pause the fees is still unclear, and students and parents will be watching for word from the Ministry of Education and the NUC.
