The House of Representatives on Tuesday directed Federal Universities to immediately suspend the implementation of an increase in tuition fees by the institutions nationwide.
This followed the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Aliyu Sani Madaki from Kano at the plenary.
While presenting the motion Hon, Madaki said, citing the poor funding of Tertiary Education and rising inflation in the country, Federal Universities across the country increased their tuition fees from 100 per cent to 200 per cent and hostel charges from 50 per cent to 100 per cent.
He identified the Universities that hiked their fees as Bayero University, Kano (BUK), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the University of Uyo, University of Maiduguri, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and Federal University, Dutse, among others.
The lawmaker expressed concern that the hike in fees by the universities is happening against the worsening poverty level in the country, inflation and high rate of unemployment and the recent fuel price hike.
According to him; “concerned that the increase could cause disruptions for a number of students who can not afford the fees and, while many of them would be forced to defer their studies, others could drop out.
“Worried that the hike may aggravate the already volatile situation in the country as students are already making threats which could lead to an uprising against the Federal Government, with grievous consequences for the country as a whole.
“Also worried that an increased rate of university dropouts may further worsen insecurity in Nigeria as
the frustrated students may find the wrong outlets to express their grievances; cognizant that tertiary education is imperative in fostering growth, reducing poverty, and boosting the prosperity of any nation.
While adopting the motion, the House urged the National Universities Commission to implement the resolution and mandated the Committee on Tertiary Education and Services (when constituted) to investigate the increase of fees by Federal Universities across the country.
This came just as the House adopted a motion on the need to reverse the recent hike of school fees in Unity Secondary Schools in Nigeria.
Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi and Hon. Kama Nkemkanma sponsored the motion in which they argued
that Federal Unity Schools were established to promote national unity and provide quality and affordable education to Nigerian students from different parts of the country, regardless of their socioeconomic background.
According to the lawmakers, “the recently approved increase in school fees for students in Federal Government colleges across the country by the Federal Ministry of Education has caused anxiety among parents and students who are still grappling with the effects of the economic hardship caused by the recent subsidy removal.
“As a result of the new school fees regime, many parents are considering withdrawing their wards from schools as they are unable to meet up with the fees, hence the country may have to deal with the dire consequences of having an alarming number of out-of-school children.
“The increment will likely lead to a decline in students enrolment in these schools which were originally intended to be affordable, the impact of which would be on the already declining quality
of education and the overall development of Nigeria.”
Adopting the motion, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Education to review the new School Fees Regime in Federal Government Colleges and revert to the old regime.
It mandated the Committee on Basic Education (when constituted) to probe the hike in school
fees for students of Federal Government Colleges across the country to ensure that basic education remains accessible and affordable to Nigerians and report back within four weeks for further legislative action