In response to recent reports claiming an increase in tuition fees at federal universities across the country, the Federal Government has emphatically denied these claims and reaffirmed its commitment to tuition-free education.
According to the Special Adviser to the President [/b]on Special Duties, Communications, and Strategy, Dele Alake, the reports are inaccurate and misleading.
A statement released by Alake denying the claim reads;
“We are aware that some universities have in recent weeks announced an 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.
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. 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.
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”.