Lecturers Children, others to enjoy fees reduction as Federal Universities hike Tuition fee in 2023

According to information sourced by myschoolnews, Lecturers Children, and others to enjoy fees reduction as Federal Universities hike Tuition fee in 2023

More federal universities across the country have announced over 200 per cent hike in registration and tuition fees for students, analysis by our correspondent has revealed.

Sunday PUNCH reports that the fee hike announcement came shortly after the suspension of the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities and calls by lecturers and other stakeholders for better funding of the tertiary education system in Nigeria.

ASUU had announced the commencement of a strike in February. The strike, which ended in October, was one of the longest in the history of ASUU strikes since 1999.

Some of the issues raised by the union bordered on the release of revitalisation funds for universities, and increment in the salaries and allowances to university lecturers.

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and its sister group, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Educational Institutions, also embarked on strike on issues bordering university funding and staff welfare.

The regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) while unveiling its scorecard noted that it had disbursed over N1tn to the tertiary education sector and that “it had no more money” to meet the demands of the union.

During the strike, a former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, had in an interview with our correspondent talked about the plan for sustainable funding of the universities, including fee hike, but ASUU kicked against the proposal.

The first time ASUU kicked against the proposal of tuition hike was during the negotiation for the 2018 strike when the chief negotiator, who represented the Federal Government, Wale Babalakin, was said to have proposed that school fees be increased to ensure sustainability in the university system, but ASUU had called for the removal of Babalakin from the negotiation panel.

Universities hike tuition

More federal universities have announced hikes in tuition fees leading to an outrage among parents and students alike.

Findings by our correspondent revealed that some universities announced over 200 per cent hike and also proposed the idea of instalment payment so as not to strain parents who might be finding it tough paying at once.

For instance, the Federal University, Dutse, has announced a 200 per cent increase in tuition fees, but also disclosed discounts for the children of its workers .

The institution announced a hike of 200 per cent in a memo exclusively obtained by Sunday PUNCH. The memo also stated that there would be a discount for children of the university’s lecturers and workers.

The memo, which was signed by the Deputy Registrar (Academics), Kamal Muhammed, on behalf of the vice-chancellor of the institution, was issued on December 12, 2022.

The memo read in part, “This is to inform you that the Senate at its 57th (extraordinary) meeting held on Thursday, 10th of November, 2022 considered and approved the following: 200 per cent increment in schedule of fees and components for undergraduate students  for the 2022/2023 academic session and other charges.

“Payment of fee in two (2) instalments of 60 per cent and 40 per cent per semester, respectively. Only one payment for hostel maintenance fee. Recommended discount payment of fees for members of staff to be decided after consultation at the general congress. Approved discount payment for spill over students to be decided by the management.”