Tuition Fee Hike Sparks Outrage at Nigerian Universities

There is growing unrest at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH) College of Nursing following a drastic increase in tuition fees. The management has raised the fees from N250,000 to a staggering N840,500, marking an increment of over 230%.

Students and parents have expressed their dismay at the hike, labeling it as insensitive. "These students cannot afford these payments. They are struggling with the former payment and this new payment will lead to massive dropouts," a parent said.

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A female student also echoed these sentiments, stating, "I know a good number of students that were barely feeding when they were in school because their parents took loans for their school fees and they had nothing to fall back on. This increment will not only cause pain and confusion but it will send a lot of students packing." 

The OAUTH College of Nursing management, like many other federal universities, has justified the increase as a necessary measure to boost their revenue generation amid poor funding by the government.

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Several other federal universities have also increased their tuition fees, including the Univerasity of Nigeria (UNN), University of Lagos (UNILAG), University of Maiduguri (UNIMAD), University of Uyo (UNIYO), University of Calabar (UNICA), Federal University Dutse, Federal University Lafia (FULafia), Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, University of Ilorin (UNIILORIN), and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

In the University of Lagos, for instance, students previously paid N19,000, but the management has now fixed new fees at N190,250 for students studying medicine, while for courses that require laboratory and studio work, students are to pay N140,250. This decision has raised apprehension among students and parents.

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Similarly, in Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Osun State, new students in the Faculties of Arts, Law, and Humanities will now pay N151,200, while returning students of the same faculties will pay N89,200. Prior to the increase, returning students in these faculties were paying N20,100, while Faculties of Technology and Science paid N28,100. Pharmacy students paid N31,100 per session.

The fee hikes across these universities have sparked widespread concern and calls for intervention to prevent potential mass dropouts.