The federal government has said that reports across some news media outlets earlier this week that the Federal Government had increased tuition fees in federal universities in the country are inaccurate and not correct.
The Presidency said it was aware that some universities have in recent weeks announced increase in the amount payable by students on sundry charges.
This was contained in a statement signed by Dele Alake, the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy.
According to Alake, the fact remains and the government has confirmed that the increase are discretionary charges by each university for hostel accommodation, registration, laboratory and other charges, and are not tuition fees.
He noted that authorities of these universities even made this fact clear enough in explaining the rationale behind these new fees adding that for avoidance of doubts, federal universities in Nigeria remain tuition-free.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to his promise of ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of the economic situation of their parents, have access to quality tertiary education.
In addition to the Students’ Loans Scheme, under the Student Loans Bill signed into law by President Tinubu last month, which will go into implementation ahead of the next academic session in September, the Federal Government will also strengthen other mechanisms to support indigent students.
Parts of the government’s plans to make sure all diligent students complete their education on time, notwithstanding their parents’ financial situation, include work-study, merit-based scholarships and grants.
