President Bola Tinubu may have on Wednesday covertly issued a warning to administrators of federal universities in the country over imposition or intent to impose tuition fees on students.
The Special Adviser to the President on Communication and Strategy, Dele Alake, in a statement on Wednesday, noted that some universities only recently announced “discretionary charges” for hostel accommodation, registration, laboratory, etc.; asserting that “They are not tuition fees.”
he declared: “For avoidance of doubts, federal universities in Nigeria remain tuition-free.”
The University of Lagos (UNILAG), and several other universities had recently announced increase in fees for new and returning undergraduate students.
According to the administrators of the University of Lagos: “After careful deliberations with its stakeholders (students, parents/guardians, staff unions, alumni among others), the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Management has reviewed the obligatory fees (mandatory charges for an academic session/year) of new and returning undergraduate students of the University.
“The adjustment in fees which will take effect from the 1st Semester, 2023/2024 Academic Session, is in view of the prevailing economic realities and the need for the University to be able to meet its obligations to its students, staff, and municipal service providers among others.
“It is also pertinent to note that the University has not increased its obligatory fees in recent years. Management, therefore, seeks the kind understanding and support of students and other stakeholders with the assurance of its commitment towards ensuring that students get the best learning experience.”
The President tended to differentiate the new fees from tuition fees in federal universities, even when they are mandatory and are associated with cost of acquiring education from the universities.