According to the presidency, there is no truth to rumors that President Bola Tinubu raised tuition rates at federally funded colleges.
For the avoidance of doubt, Dele Alake, the president’s special media advisor, stated in a statement on Wednesday that federal colleges in Nigeria continue to be tuition-free.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to his promise to make sure that every Nigerian has access to high-quality tertiary education, regardless of the economic situation of their parents.”
Alake made this comment in response to the tuition increase announced by various federal universities and unity schools last week.
A mandate to raise the tuition for new students enrolling in Federal Government Colleges, also known as Federal Unity Colleges, was previously issued by the Federal Ministry of Education. The increased tuition would be 100,000.
Tuition and boarding fees, uniforms, textbooks, deposits, exercise books, prospectuses, caution fees, ID cards, stationery, clubs and societies, sports, extracurricular activities, insurance, and other expenses will all be covered by the higher rates.
Additionally, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) administration announced an increase in undergraduate tuition from N19,000 to N190,250 for students studying medicine, and N140,250 for programmes requiring laboratory and studio work.
Following a meeting with the senior management team, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, UNILAG chapter suggested the raise, which the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, approved.
According to Alake, the increments are “discretionary charges by each university for hostel accommodation, registration, laboratory and other charges” and are not considered to be part of the student body’s tuition.
Authorities at these colleges even sufficiently explained the justification for these additional fees, according to Alake.
He said that the Federal Government would also reinforce additional mechanisms to help needy students. He said the Students’ Loans Scheme, under the Student Loans Bill signed into law by President Tinubu last month, will go into execution prior to the new academic session in September.
Work-study, merit-based scholarships, and grants are among of the government’s initiatives to ensure that all devout students finish their education on time, regardless of their parents’ financial status, Alake added.