Education

Review hike in school fees, ASUU president, others advise FG

Published

3 years ago

July 24, 2023

National President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke

Review hike in school fees, ASUU president, others advise FG

The National President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, has urged the Federal Government to review the hike in fees in its schools.

He urged the government to do so and find a safe landing for the nation’s future leaders.

Osodeke was speaking against the backdrop of the recent hike in fess of Unity Colleges and some first generation public tertiary institutions in the country.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview on Sunday in Lagos that the hike in fees could be counterproductive.

Recall that the University of Lagos was the latest of the public universities to increase its fees from N25,000 to almost N200,000, depending on programme.

The university had announced an adjustment in the obligatory fees for both returning and new students of the institution, with effect from Sept 1, for the 2023/2024 academic session.

A breakdown of the fees by the institution showed that the mandatory charges for one academic session for new undergraduate students are N126, 325, for courses without laboratory/studio.

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It also approved N176,325 as mandatory charges for one academic session for courses with laboratory and studio.

A further breakdown of the approved mandatory charges for one academic year for returning students showed N100,750 for courses without laboratory and studio, while approved mandatory charges for courses with laboratory and studio was N140,250.

Approved charges for Medical students was put at N190,250.

The institution also fixed N20,000 as utility charge to be paid by all undergraduate students, while a total of N30,000 was to be paid by all final year students.

According to the university, the review came after careful deliberations with its stakeholders (students, parents/guardians, staff unions, alumni among others).

It had explained that the adjustment in fees was in view of the prevailing economic realities, for it to be able to meet its obligations to its students, staff and municipal service providers among others.

Osodeke said that the best way out to issues was to adopt holistic approach, noting that policies should be people centred.

“I think the whole thing now boils down to the parents. These have been part of our agitations. We were fighting on the need to right some wrongs, but rather than get support, we were attacked.

“It may interest you to know that UNILAG is not the only tertiary institution that has hiked fees in recent times.

“The likes of Bayero University Kano, Benin and Abuja among others, have all done the same. What this will translate to, is for children of the poor to withdraw from school.

“However, we should be mindful of the inherent danger that may accompany such development, when it comes to vices, especially among youth. It could become a willing pool to recruit from. It is indeed sad.

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“We hope the current administration will review the whole situation and find a safe landing for these our future leaders.

‘Government could set up a high-powered commission, made up of people of integrity and brain, to review all the issues, as it concerns the country’s education sector. And like I said, it has been done in the past,” the unionist said.

Also reacting, one of the students of the institution who pleaded anonymity, called on well meaning Nigerians to prevail on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene on the situation.

The 400 level student of the Faculty of Engineering told NAN that the hike in fees could mean the end of his academic pursuit as he was responsible for his education.

“I used to do menial jobs to see myself through school, especially during vacation. Sometimes I do night guard in some establishments around.

”My parents are both not too strong and hence I took up the challenge to do something for myself, so that at the end, I will be able to take care of my siblings and my parents too.

“Even before now, it has not been easy. With the current increase, what do I do, where do I start from, who do I run to. Should I just allow all I have been able to achieve getting to this level go down the drain?. I may not be able to stand this,” he said.

A prospective student, who gave her name simply as Mercy, said her parents were already having a second thought concerning her joining the institution, following the increase in fees.

According to her, the situation has thrown the family into confusion, as it is becoming increasingly clear that her parents may not be able to meet up with such demands, considering the current economic realities in the country.

Mercy, who had been given placement in the institution to study Pharmacy, noted that she may lose the opportunity and opt for skills acquisition.

“My parents had supported me to this stage and were positive about seeing me through the university, even from their meagre resources but with this current hike in fees, it is clear that my dreams for academic progression may no longer materialise,” she said.

Another student who also pleaded anonymity appealed to the Federal Government to reconsider the fees, as the development could have unintended consequences.

The final year student of Accounting urged government to plough back recovered government funds into the education sector, to bring relief to parents, especially in the face of the ripple effect of the subsidy removal.(NAN)

Related Topics:ASUU Featured FG school fees

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Education

JAMB Releases First Batch of 2026 UTME Results for 632,788 Candidates

Published

2 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Trends Admin

JAMB Releases First Batch of 2026 UTME Results for 632,788 Candidates

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the first batch of 2026 UTME results, with a total of 632,788 candidates who sat for the examination on Thursday, April 16, now able to access their scores.

In a statement issued by its Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, the board confirmed that the results have been processed and are available for viewing, even as the nationwide Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) continues across accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres.

JAMB directed candidates to check their results by sending “UTMERESULT” via SMS to 55019 or 66019, using the same phone number linked to their registration. It clarified that, for now, candidates can only view their results, while printing of result slips will be enabled at a later stage.

The board issued a strong warning against result falsification and manipulation, particularly the alteration of SMS result messages to deceive parents or the public. It described such actions as a serious criminal offence, stressing that it will not hesitate to prosecute offenders.

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JAMB disclosed that two candidates and one parent are already in custody for allegedly falsifying UTME results using artificial intelligence and other electronic means, highlighting a growing trend of digital malpractice.

“The Board treats such misconduct with the utmost gravity… Any candidate found culpable will face the full consequences of the law,” the statement noted.

The examination body also revealed that the 2026 UTME is still ongoing, and results will be released in batches as marking and verification processes are completed. Some results, it added, may be withheld temporarily due to issues such as biometric verification, suspected malpractice, or technical concerns, pending further review.

JAMB reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a credible, transparent, and technology-driven examination system, noting that enhanced monitoring mechanisms have been deployed to detect irregularities and uphold the integrity of the process.

The UTME remains a key requirement for admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education in Nigeria, with hundreds of thousands of candidates participating annually.

JAMB Releases First Batch of 2026 UTME Results for 632,788 Candidates

Education

FG Ends Physical Certificate Verification as Process Goes Fully Digital

Published

1 day ago

April 17, 2026

Trends Admin

Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa

FG Ends Physical Certificate Verification as Process Goes Fully Digital

The Federal Government has announced the full automation of the authentication and evaluation of academic credentials, marking a major shift in Nigeria’s education verification system and officially ending physical verification processes.

The reform was disclosed by the Federal Ministry of Education in a statement issued on Friday by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, describing the initiative as part of efforts to strengthen transparency, improve data management, and enhance service delivery in the education sector.

According to the ministry, the new system aligns with the Federal Government’s broader digital transformation agenda, aimed at leveraging technology to improve efficiency, reduce delays, and ensure the integrity of academic records.

With the new policy, all applications for academic credential authentication and evaluation will now be processed strictly online through the ministry’s official verification portal.

Applicants are required to register and upload supporting documents via the official platform: essverify.education.gov.ng, while also contacting their awarding institutions to forward academic transcripts directly from official institutional email addresses to ess1@education.gov.ng for verification and processing.

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The ministry stressed that physical visits to its offices for certificate authentication are no longer required, as the entire process has been moved to a fully electronic system.

Officials explained that the digital transition is expected to significantly reduce processing time, streamline administrative procedures, and strengthen the credibility of academic verification across Nigeria.

The policy is also aimed at addressing long-standing challenges of certificate fraud and document falsification, which have affected both employment verification and academic mobility.

Education stakeholders say the reform could improve Nigeria’s global academic credibility by aligning its credential verification system with international digital standards increasingly used by universities and employers worldwide.

The ministry added that safeguards have been integrated into the system to ensure data security and prevent manipulation, while also improving coordination between educational institutions and government agencies.

The move forms part of wider education sector reforms focused on digitisation, transparency, and improved public service delivery across federal institutions.

FG Ends Physical Certificate Verification as Process Goes Fully Digital

Education

PTDF Screens 243 PhD Applicants in Port Harcourt

Published

3 days ago

April 15, 2026

Trends Admin

Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF)

PTDF Screens 243 PhD Applicants in Port Harcourt

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has commenced the screening of 243 PhD applicants from Nigeria’s South-South region in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, under its 2026/2027 Overseas Scholarship Scheme, as part of efforts to boost local capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and reduce capital flight.

The screening exercise, held at the PTDF Centre for Skills Development and Training, is part of a nationwide selection process designed to identify qualified candidates for advanced studies in critical areas of the petroleum industry.

Speaking during the exercise, PTDF’s Deputy Manager, Internal Audit, Mr. Daddy Ogiri Obonin, said the initiative reflects the Fund’s renewed commitment to developing indigenous technical manpower required to drive growth and innovation in the oil and gas sector.

He revealed that the scholarship scheme has been restructured with the introduction of a split-site model, which allows beneficiaries to undertake a significant portion of their studies within Nigeria, while maintaining academic collaboration with international institutions.

According to him, the new approach is aimed at reducing the high cost of overseas education, limiting capital flight, and addressing the long-standing issue of beneficiaries remaining abroad after completing their studies.

Obonin noted that PTDF has invested in upgrading its training facilities, including its centres in Kaduna and Port Harcourt, to meet global standards and support high-level research and innovation.

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He explained that the reform has already begun to influence application patterns, with fewer candidates opting for fully funded overseas programmes as the Fund prioritises knowledge retention and local industry impact.

The screening process covers a wide range of disciplines including engineering, geosciences, environmental studies, energy economics, and management, reflecting the evolving needs of Nigeria’s energy sector, especially in areas such as sustainability, energy transition, and resource optimisation.

PTDF also reaffirmed that its selection process remains transparent, merit-based, and guided by the Federal Character principle, ensuring equitable representation of candidates across the country.

In recent years, the Fund has increasingly aligned its scholarship priorities with national energy goals, focusing on areas such as gas development, renewable energy, and digital innovation to enhance efficiency and competitiveness in the petroleum industry.

Also speaking, one of the panelists, Dr. Hafisat Lawal, commended the quality of research proposals presented by applicants, noting that many candidates demonstrated strong, interdisciplinary approaches to addressing real-world challenges in the oil and gas sector.

She highlighted that even candidates from non-traditional backgrounds, including law, health, and education, showed clear relevance to industry needs through innovative research topics.

One of the applicants, Alete Godwin, a chemical engineer researching the extraction of bioethanol from solid waste, described the screening process as thorough and professional, expressing confidence in the fairness of the exercise.

The PTDF Overseas Scholarship Scheme remains one of Nigeria’s flagship human capital development programmes, having sponsored thousands of Nigerians for postgraduate studies in leading institutions worldwide.

However, concerns over brain drain and capital flight have prompted reforms such as the split-site model, which aims to ensure that investments in education translate into local economic growth and industry development.

Experts believe the restructured programme could play a critical role in bridging skill gaps, strengthening research capacity, and boosting indigenous participation in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.