NANS SUMMONS EMERGENCY MEETING AS MORE VARSITIES MULL TUITION FEES HIKE 

Some federal universities are currently considering raising tuition fees for students amidst cries for increased funding of the institutions, investigations have revealed.

Our correspondents report that three federal universities – University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Federal University of Technology, Owerri, and Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, Bauchi State, have already announced up to 100 per cent hike in fees following the suspension of the recent strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

Further investigations by Team PLATO revealed that more federal universities, including Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, University of Maiduguri and the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, were also set to increase tuition fees. Though the management of the three schools had yet to make the decisions public, an academic staff member at UNIMAID noted that the fees paid by students could no longer sustain the university, hence the need for the increment.

“This is one of the reasons ASUU is fighting the government. If the money won’t come from the government, the money has to come from somewhere else. The management is thinking of hiking the fees. It is the only way out,” the lecturer stated.

At the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, one of our correspondents learnt that the school was planning to increase school fees to N80,000 for old students. Sources at FUOYE disclosed that there were contemplations to increase the school fees even though the management had not made the plans public.Meanwhile, the National Executive Council of NANS is set to meet today (Saturday) to discuss the issue of tuition fee increment.

The National Secretary-General, NANS, Usman Kankia, in a circular obtained by one of our correspondents, said the meeting would hold at the Federal College of Education, Zuba, Abuja.The circular titled, ‘Invitation for Emergency Joint Session Meeting’ was dated December 7, 2022. The meeting will involve coordinators of all the zones in the country as well as state and national executive members and other stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the National Executive Council of NANS is set to meet today (Saturday) to discuss the issue of tuition fee increment.The National Secretary-General, NANS, Usman Kankia, in a circular obtained by one of our correspondents, said the meeting would hold at the Federal College of Education, Zuba, Abuja.

The circular titled, ‘Invitation for Emergency Joint Session Meeting’ was dated December 7, 2022. The meeting will involve coordinators of all the zones in the country as well as state and national executive members and other stakeholders. Also to be discussed, according to the agenda, is the new withdrawal limit set by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Other issues to be discussed include the scarcity of Premium Motor Spirits (also known as petrol) and the National Health Insurance Scheme, among others.

The National Vice-President (External Affairs) of NANS, Akinteye Babatunde-Afeez, confirmed the meeting, noting that the association would not accept any form of fee increment by any university.He said members of NANS would shut down the entire country if the Federal Government did not intervene in the matter urgently.

Babatunde-Afeez stated, “It is barbaric and wicked for any university to come up at this point in time with the economic atmosphere to say it wants to increase school fees. It is crazy. We at the last level of the ladder are not going to take it.

“Every school that has added a dime will be shut down by Nigerian students. They cannot commercialise education. It is not for profit-making. These institutions are government-owned and they are the only hope of the masses, so we will not accept it.”

The National President of the Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria, Haruna Danjuma, said parents would not be able to afford the hiked tuition fees imposed on them by some tertiary institutions. He urged the universities to be considerate to the parents, noting that the economy was not favourable for such a decision.

Blaming the Federal Government, Danjuma said, “This fee hike originated from the face-off between the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Federal Government. The unavailability of teaching and lab materials in government institutions, especially the ones owned by the Federal Government, and the non-payment of the lecturers’ salaries over the period of seven months will compound this issue.

“The court has intervened and the lectures have obeyed its ruling, but nothing is being done. Now, the vice-chancellors and other university chiefs do not have any other option but to pounce on us parents to request extra money in the name of increment.

“It is not going to work. This is because the pressure is already too much on us. Where do they expect us to raise money to go and pay for these high school fees?”

He also urged the government to caution the universities, noting that the hike in fees might lead to an increase in the number of dropouts from the institutions.

The PTA boss added, “The government should do the needful by calling the attention of the university authorities to address the matter. We are managing and squeezing our pockets to be able to afford the current fees. Some of the self-sponsored students will drop out. It has not been easy sponsoring our children; so, the government must intervene, else we will know that they don’t have us at heart.

“The universities cannot just do what they feel like doing without the consent of the government, which owns the institutions. We call on the government, as a matter of urgency, to do the needful.

“This will make most of our children drop out and join crime. Insecurity will increase. Most of our children will become frustrated and pushed into negative vices. The government needs to help us.”