Students at Nigeria’s public universities are grappling with steep tuition hikes, adding to the long-standing challenges of frequent strikes and deteriorating infrastructure. Several institutions, including Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), the University of Lagos (UNILAG), and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), have raised fees dramatically, sparking protests. These fee increases, which universities argue are necessary due to dwindling funding and rising operational costs, have the potential to force many undergraduates to drop out, a scenario that would have devastating consequences for Nigeria’s future.

For instance, TASUED increased its fees by over 200 to 300 per cent, while UNILAG raised its tuition from N19,000 to N190,500, citing the high costs of maintaining hostels, paying for electricity, and covering accreditation expenses. Other institutions like the University of Jos, Bayero University Kano, and the University of Ibadan have also hiked fees, with UI proposing increases that more than double its previous rates.

These sudden fee spikes pose a significant burden on students and their families in a country where the minimum wage is N30,000 per month. The inability to meet these new financial demands could see many students, especially those from low-income families, drop out of school, exacerbating Nigeria’s already dire educational crisis.

The fee increases reflect the reality that Nigeria’s governments—both federal and state—are not adequately funding education. Despite owning 52 universities, the federal government grossly underfunds them, while continuing to establish new institutions, often for political gain. Over the past decade, it has established numerous specialized universities, even though it has failed to fully fund existing ones or meet its financial commitments to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). For instance, the N1.2 trillion the federal government agreed to pay to ASUU in 2009 for university revitalization and salary enhancement remains largely unpaid.

Compounding the problem, the Bola Tinubu-led federal government recently announced a 40 per cent automatic deduction from the internally generated revenue (IGR) of federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, a move that will likely further cripple the institutions’ ability to operate effectively. Nigeria already faces a severe education crisis, with UNESCO reporting that the country has 20.1 million out-of-school children, the second highest figure in the world.

Education is crucial for national development. The World Bank emphasizes that tertiary education plays a key role in fostering economic growth, reducing poverty, and promoting shared prosperity. In today’s global, knowledge-driven economy, it is essential for Nigeria to strengthen its education system to develop a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation and progress.

However, achieving this requires difficult decisions and a long-term strategy. The government must stop creating new public tertiary institutions and instead focus on properly funding existing ones. Some newly established universities, particularly the military and paramilitary universities that serve no practical purpose, should be scrapped, with students and faculty merged into other institutions.

Additionally, the fee increases should be reduced and implemented gradually to give students and families time to adjust. Universities should consider introducing smaller, incremental hikes over time, rather than imposing sudden, astronomical increases.

To ease the financial burden on students, the federal, state, and local governments must also provide multi-layered funding options, including grants, partial and full scholarships, and bursaries. NGOs, philanthropists, and faith-based organizations can also contribute by offering financial assistance to students in need. The federal government’s loan scheme for students should be made available as quickly as possible, with state and local governments following suit.

Ultimately, every Nigerian who desires a tertiary education should not be denied that opportunity due to financial constraints. By employing diverse funding options and fostering a more supportive education environment, Nigeria can safeguard the future of its students and ensure its educational system remains a driver of national development.