Economy Blues: Legislators urge NUC to halt implementation of tuition hike in varsities

*Members of the Nigerian House of Representatives, in Abuja, are especially are concerned that recent fee hike in the country’s universities is happening amid the worsening poverty level, inflation, high rate of unemployment, and the recent fuel price increase resulting from petrol subsidy removal

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In a move to protect Nigerian University students from further socio-economic uncertainties, the members of the House of Representatives in the National Assembly (NASS), Abuja, FCT, have urged the National Universities Commission (NUC) to suspend implementation of increases in the tuition of universities.

Aliyu Sani Madaki, in a motion in the House, disclosed that the some of the Nigerian universities that have increased their fees included Bayero University, Kano (BUK); University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN); University of Uyo (UNIUYO); University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID); Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike; and Federal University, Dutse, among others.

Lawmakers express concern over fate of several students

ConsumerConnect reports the Federal legislators especially are concerned about the hike in fees in the universities is happening amid the worsening poverty level, inflation, high rate of unemployment, and the recent fuel price hike resulting from petrol subsidy removal.

According to the lawmakers, the hike in tuition can cause disruptions for a number of students who could not afford the such fee increases.

The lawmakers equally feared that many of the affected student would be forced to defer their studies, while others could drop out of the University system entirely.

The Lower Legislative House further reasoned that the tuition hike might worsen the already volatile socio-economic dislocations in the West African country.

Students are already making threats, which could lead to an uprising against the Federal Government, with grievous consequences for the country as a whole, noted the legislators.

Besides, the House also urged the Federal Government to reverse the recent increase the school fees payable in Unity secondary schools in Nigeria.