The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to halt recent increases in fees charged by public tertiary institutions, following concerns that some universities, polytechnics and colleges of education have raised charges by more than 100 per cent.
The lawmakers also directed relevant committees to investigate the fee hikes amid fears that the increases could make higher education unaffordable for many Nigerian students.
The resolutions followed a motion sponsored by Ifeoluwa Ehindero, who criticised the increases, saying they were introduced without adequate consultation or sufficient consideration of the financial difficulties facing many families.
The House expressed concern that the fee hikes could undermine the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides interest-free loans to eligible students to support their tertiary education.
According to the lawmakers, rising institutional charges could affect the effectiveness of the loan scheme, particularly if its funding arrangements do not adequately cover the new fees imposed by schools.
They warned that the increases could widen inequality in access to education, put additional pressure on students from low-income households and force some undergraduates to abandon their studies.
The lawmakers also cautioned that higher fees could trigger student protests, heighten tension on campuses and weaken public confidence in the government’s commitment to affordable education.
To address the situation, the House urged the Federal Government to increase funding for public tertiary institutions to reduce their dependence on revenue generated through student fees.
It also called on the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission to engage institutional authorities on suspending the increases and reviewing their fee structures.
The House mandated its committees on University Education, Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education, and Federal Colleges of Education to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fee hikes and determine whether they were justified.
The intervention is aimed at protecting students’ access to higher education and ensuring that rising institutional charges do not undermine the objectives of NELFUND.
Kehinde Ayanboade
Kehinde Ayanboade is the Managing Editor and Publisher of Naija Metro News, with over eight years of experience covering Nigerian politics, crime, legislative proceedings and metropolitan affairs.
