The Federal Government has maintained its stance that it prohibits any federal university in the country from imposing tuition fees.
During a public hearing held on Tuesday in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mr. David Adejo, made the following statement before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on student loans.
Adejo expressed his disapproval on the regrettable escalation of fees in federal universities inside the nation.
“What they collect is charges to cover the cost of accommodation, ICT, and power, among others. It is the Governing Councils of the Universities that have the power to approve such charges for them.
“The only university that increased charges after the signing of the student loans act is the University of Lagos.
“They came to the Ministry with a proposal to increase their charges because all Governing Councils were dissolved and we gave them approval.
“Immediately that was done, there was a resolution from the House stopping the increase in fees and the President also gave a directive stopping any increase in fees and that is where it is, even though several others have brought their proposal,” he said.
According to Adejo, the institutions utilised the money obtained to cover other expenses, such as electricity costs.
He disputed assertions that some of the increase in university fees was caused by the passage of the Students’ Loan Act.
Adejo claimed that the universities have struggled to cover some costs in spite of the fees.
He claimed that plans had been made for the student loan programme to start in the 2023–2024 school year.
According to Adejo, President Bola Tinubu issued a directive stating that all necessary work must be finished on the scheme’s take-off mechanisms in order for it to launch in September.
