As President Bola Tinubu’s 100-day milestone in office approaches, the harsh realities on the ground starkly contradict his electoral promise to rejuvenate the education sector across all levels, aligning it with emerging global best practices and adapting to socio-economic shifts.
A growing number of Nigerians who had harbored hopes of witnessing a transformative overhaul in the education sector under the new administration are now expressing deep concerns. They find themselves grappling with the adverse consequences of the recent surge in school fees, further exacerbated by the prevailing high cost of living amidst a backdrop of economic challenges in the country.
Yemisi Ogunsola, a concerned parent whose child is currently in their second year at the University of Lagos, lamented the recent increase in tuition fees at tertiary institutions, which has thrown her family’s financial equilibrium into disarray. The relentless rise in living costs is eroding their daily quality of life, with surging electricity tariffs, escalating transportation expenses, and the soaring prices of essential food items all contributing to their mounting difficulties.
“The situation is precarious and excruciating; we do not know what to do. We are paying a surging electricity tariff; transport fare is rising, coupled with the high cost of food items.”
“The situation is traumatizing; I don’t know how to go about it because we cannot ask the poor boy to withdraw, and the engineering course takes longer.”
“I’m disappointed with how the new government is taking off; if President Tinubu continues this way, then, I will say, there is no hope for education in Nigeria,” she said.
Following President Tinubu’s approval of the Student Loan Act on June 12, 2023, numerous public universities in Nigeria have initiated fee adjustments for the 2023/2024 academic year. They cite current economic conditions and the necessity to fulfill their commitments to students and stakeholders amidst the rising cost of living.
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has raised its fees, introducing a new fee structure. Under this structure, students enrolled in non-laboratory courses will be required to pay a total of N100,750, while those pursuing laboratory courses will pay N140,250. Meanwhile, medical students will face a fee of N190,250.
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Prior to this increase, returning undergraduate students at UNILAG were paying fees ranging from N26,000 to approximately N76,000, depending on their chosen courses and academic levels.
In a similar fashion, the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) has raised its tuition fees significantly. Students pursuing medicine will now face a substantial increase, with new students paying a staggering N252,500, while returning students will be charged N233,000.
The university’s fees have seen a remarkable surge, surging from N29,830 to approximately N74,000, with an additional registration fee of N58,000.
Likewise, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has declared a 100 percent tuition fee hike. Fresh students across the various faculties of the university will now have to pay a consolidated amount ranging from N114,650 to N120,650, while returning students are expected to contribute between N85,000 and N95,000.
Prior to these recent changes, returning students at the institution were charged N40,000, whereas new students had a tuition fee of N83,000.
The University of Benin (UNIBEN) has raised its fees for science students to N190,000, up from the previous N73,000, while non-science students are now required to pay N170,000, compared to the previous N69,000.
Additionally, secondary schools have also joined in this trend of fee increases, with even federal government-owned schools now raising their fees.
Joseph Nwankwo, a businessman who has children attending both secondary school and university, expressed how the escalating cost of living is impacting many households. Prices for various expenses such as school fees, books, uniforms, boarding fees, food, and other items have all seen significant increases.
Nwankwo cited an example of his child attending a prestigious secondary school in Lagos, where the school fee has surged to N1.2 million, up from the previous N500,000. This reflects the broader challenges faced by parents amid rising inflation.
“I have a child in one of the top-notch secondary schools in Lagos; the school has increased the fee to N1.2 million as against N500,000 we were paying before.”
A mother of two, Blessing Nwachukwu. described the event as a ill fated occurrence.
“The increment is happening at a hypercritical time in Nigeria when the masses face multitudinous challenges, including removal of petrol subsidies and inflation.
“An increment in fees amounts to moving many students, especially those from poor homes, from frying pan to a burning fire,” she said.
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Ifeanyi Eke, an education expert, characterizes President Tinubu’s first 100 days in office as a troubling period for education. In his view, the new administration has failed to demonstrate sufficient strategies to address the pressing issues within the education sector.
“The government is saying that education is not for the children of the poor. Most public university students are from poor homes; how will they cope with this?” he asked.
Charles Onwunali, a senior lecturer at UNILAG, asserted that the government’s endorsement of subsidy removal and the Student Loan Act signifies its intention to transform the education sector in Nigeria, with a particular focus on commercializing tertiary education.
Achike Chude, the deputy chairman of the Joint Action Front (JAF), advocated for robust government funding of public education and emphasized the importance of democratic management in allocating and managing finances across all educational institutions as a solution.