FG Mandates Tuition-Free Policy For Federal Universities

The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Mr David Adejo, has officially stated that no federal university in the country is permitted to impose tuition fees.

Addressing the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on student loans in Abuja on Tuesday, August 15, Mr Adejo expressed his disappointment over the recent fee hikes implemented by federal universities in the nation.

He explained that the fees collected by the institutions were allocated to cover various services, such as electricity bills.

“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.”

Contrary to the claims linking the increase in university charges to the Students’ loan act, Adejo explained that universities have struggled to meet certain financial obligations.”