The Presidency says federal universities in the country remain tuition-free.
This was disclosed in a statement signed today by the President’s Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Dele Alake.
According to him, the hike in fees is attributed to increase in ancillary fees – hostel accommodation, registration, laboratory, amongst others – at several universities nationwide.
He noted that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration remains committed to ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of the economic situation of their parents, has access to quality tertiary education.
In addition to the Students’ Loans Scheme, under the Student Loans Bill signed into law by President Tinubu in June, which will go into implementation ahead of the next academic session in September, Mr. Alake said the Federal Government will also strengthen other mechanisms to support indigent students.
This comes as some tertiary institutions including the University of Lagos (UNILAG) hiked their fees for new and returning undergraduate students.
UNILAG hinged the move on what it described as the prevailing economic realities.