Tuition Fees Imminent as Tinubu’s Government Says It Can’t Fund Universities Anymore

Newsflash Nigeria StaffJune 15, 2023

1 minute read

The Federal Government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that it can no longer bear the financial burden of universities in the country and that it is pursuing private-public partnerships to ensure their sustainability.

This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary for the Federal Ministry of Education, Andrew David Adejo, during a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

He stated that while universities already enjoy autonomy, they lack financial autonomy, which is essential for them to address their challenges.

“Whether we like it or not, the government can no longer foot the bill for universities. That is why we are pursuing private-public partnerships.

“The universities already have autonomy; what they lack is financial autonomy. Once they obtain it, they will be able to address this issue, and the government is actively working towards that goal,” Adejo said.

He also revealed that President Tinubu has instructed relevant stakeholders to ensure the disbursement of student loans by the end of the September/October 2023/2024 Academic Session.

The student loan scheme was introduced by the Student Loan Bill signed by President Tinubu on Monday. The bill, which is now an act of parliament, aims to provide easy access to higher education for indigent Nigerians through interest-free loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.

However, the bill also implies that tuition fees will be introduced in federal universities, polytechnics and other tertiary institutions, as the loans are meant to cover only the payment of tuition fees.

This development has raised concerns among educationists and other stakeholders, who fear that it will end the era of tuition-free education in public institutions and make higher education unaffordable for many Nigerians.

Currently, tuition is free in government schools at both national and state levels, although students pay some charges for other issues such as accommodation, departmental, and course registration, among others. The waiver of tuition has given millions of students the opportunity to go to school since independence.

However, observers say that the introduction of a student loan scheme by the federal government means an end to tuition-free education and a violation of the constitutional provision that guarantees free education for all citizens.