NANS decries “arbitrary” tuition hikes in Southwest institutions

From Lateef Dada, Osogbo

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone D has condemned what it describes as “arbitrary and exorbitant” increases in tuition fees by several tertiary institutions in the Southwest.

Adeyemo Kayode, the Southwest coordinator, addressed the media in Osogbo yesterday, expressing frustration over the morally and economically questionable nature of these fee hikes in a country where the minimum wage stands at a mere N77,000.

“It is unacceptable for institutions to impose fees that disregard the financial realities of students and their families,” he stated.

Kayode noted that many institutions have unjustifiably raised fees, citing economic reasons while ignoring the harsher realities faced by their student populations. After evaluating the situation across various campuses in the region, NANS identified several institutions that implemented significant fee hikes without following due process or considering student welfare.

“We are issuing a seven-day notice of engagement, effective February 18, 2026, to the management of affected institutions. We demand a dialogue with student union governments to review these increments for the sake of accessibility and fairness,” Kayode said.

He emphasised that the association’s approach would be peaceful, structured, lawful, but determined. “Education is a public trust, not a commercial enterprise. These institutions are funded by taxpayers and exist to serve the public, not to exploit students as mere customers. We will not let our youths’ futures be compromised by the administrative recklessness of a few.”

Kayode warned that if the institutions fail to engage constructively within the stipulated timeframe, NANS will mobilise its members for a peaceful yet decisive coordinated response.

The students also commended President Bola Tinubu for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), calling it a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of students. “As of December 2025, NELFUND has disbursed over N161 billion in interest-free loans to more than N864,000 beneficiaries across 263 public tertiary institutions nationwide,” they noted.

NANS condemned the rising rent costs in student communities, which they say often rival or exceed tuition fees. They also criticised the continued proscription of student unions in tertiary institutions throughout the region, calling for a reconsideration of such policies.