The National Association of University Students (NAUS) is threatening to organize a mass protest in response to the recent increase in tuition fees at government secondary schools and tertiary institutions.
In a statement titled “Warning Against Tuition Fee Increment”, NAUS president, Erubami Ayobami, and national deputy president, Babalola Daniel, disclosed that they are considering a mass protest in response to the recent increase in tuition fees.
“It is with great displeasure as we Write to condemn the act of the Federal Government as well as higher institutions who have decided to increase the price of tuition in this current economic disintegration,” part of the statement read.
Politics Nigeria reported on Friday that the management of the University of Lagos, Akoka, has increased fees for undergraduate students in the institution.
The students of the institution previously paid N19,000 but the management has fixed new fees at N190,250 for students studying medicine while for courses that require laboratory and studio are to pay N140,250.
Similarly, the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Education has increased the school fees of new students into Federal Government Colleges otherwise known as Federal Unity Colleges to ₦100,000.
According to the circular entitled, “Approved fees/ charges for Federal Unity Colleges (1st Term) for new students“, signed by the director of senior secondary education, Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, new students are expected to part with ₦100,000 instead of the previous N45,000.
NAUS added that: “It is evident that the state of our university education is not encouraging and as such, implementations that will further negatively affect the educational system would not be encouraged.
“University is where every profession that runs the nation is trained and mentored, investing in the origin of every profession should never be a problem for any nation interested in development.”
It warned that the student populace would not hesitate to stage a protest against any enactment on tuition increment.
“We want to reiterate that as students, we won’t hesitate to come out en-mass to protest against any form of implementation that poses a threat to the students’ community,” it added.
While assuring students of its commitment to protecting their interests at all times, the student’s body further urged various higher institutions that have made plans to hike their school fees to reconsider their plans “as it will only do more bad than good to the academic system and as well adverse effect on the students”.
