Reps ask FG to suspend school fee hikes, probe 100% increases
- House of Representatives don urge Federal Government to suspend recent fee increases for public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
- Lawmakers don mandate committees to investigate hikes wey pass 100 per cent and how e affect NELFUND loans.
- House also ask for higher subventions to public institutions so dem go rely less on student charges.
House of Representatives don ask Federal Government to suspend recent school fee increases for public tertiary institutions and order investigation into how far those fees don rise, Vanguard report.
The resolution follow motion by Hon. Ifeoluwa Ehindero, wey talk say some public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education don raise fees and other compulsory charges by more than 100 per cent. He talk say the increases come without wide consultation and without enough regard for the economic pressure on Nigerian families.
Lawmakers also direct committees on University Education, Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education, and Federal Colleges of Education to look into the increases and decide whether dem justified.
Why e matter to students
House warn say sudden fee hikes fit weaken the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the federal interest-free loan scheme for students wey no fit pay. The scheme was built around existing tuition levels, so sharp increases fit leave students borrowing more or dropping out.
Lawmakers talk say unchecked increases fit widen the gap between rich and poor students, push more students out of school, cause unrest on campuses and shake public confidence in the government promise of affordable education. Dem point to Section 18 of the 1999 Constitution, wey require government to ensure equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels.
House urge Federal Government to raise subventions to public tertiary institutions so dem go depend less on money wey dem collect from students. E also ask Federal Ministry of Education and National Universities Commission (NUC) to engage school managements on suspending the increases and reviewing tuition in line with current economic realities.
The sources no talk which institutions raise fees, by how much in naira, or when the increases take effect. Dem also no give date for the committee investigation or talk whether Federal Government don respond to the House call.
Wetin go happen next
The committees expected to investigate the increases and report back to the House. Whether Federal Government and the institutions go pause the fees still no clear, and students and parents go dey watch for word from Ministry of Education and NUC.
