The National Association of University Students NAUS has threatened to embark on a nationwide mass protest following the recent hike in tuition fees in Nigerian Universities.
The news follows after the recent increment in the tuition fee of the University Of Lagos, and the School fees into Federal Government Colleges otherwise known as Federal Unity Colleges, which was N45,000 then, but saw it skyrocket to N100,000 after the increment.
The Director of Senior Secondary School Hajiya Binta Abdulqadir has signed the papers showing the increment in the pupil’s School fees.
As such, the NAUS on its side, has sent a letter to the Nigerian government expressing its displeasure and raising alarm over a possible protest.
The letter which was signed on Saturday by the National Chairman of the body Eruobami Ayobami, and the National Deputy President Babalola Daniel, read “Warning Against Tuition Fee Increment”,
Part of the letter read “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,”
“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.”
Initially, Punch newspaper reported on Friday that the Management of the University of Lagos, Akoka has increased their tuition fee for undergraduate programs. This was disclosed in a circular released by the University management.
However, it’s reported that the initial tuition fee for medical students was N19,000, but due to the increment, students will now pay N190,250 for medicine, while N140,000 for laboratory and Studio students. This was contained in a statement dated 20th July 2023 by the Senior Staff Association of Universities UNILAG branch.
The student body also noted that its members are fully prepared and ready for a nationwide protest.
“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.”