Reps ask federal-owned universities to suspend hike in fees

The House of Representatives has asked the federal government to suspend the planned hike in school fees in federal government universities.

The resolution was sequel to a motion moved by Aliyu Madaki on Tuesday on the floor of the House.

According to Madaki, some schools have increased tuition fees by as much as 200% despite the worsening economic situation and growing level of poverty in the country.

“Federal Universities across the country increased their tuition fees by tuition fees from 100% to 200% while hostel fees were increased from 50% to 100%;

“The Universities that hiked their fees include 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.

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“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,” he said.

The House, therefore, urged the National Universities Commission to immediately halt the implementation of the increase in fees by Federal Universities.

It also mandated the Committee on Tertiary Education and Services (when constituted) to investigate the increase of fees by Federal Universities across the country with a view to finding lasting solutions to the challenges in the tertiary education sector.