Lawmakers urge FG to intervene, warn rising tuition could undermine NELFUND and push more students out of school
October 27, 2026
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to halt recent increases in school fees and other compulsory charges across public tertiary institutions, warning that rising education costs could undermine the objectives of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
The lawmakers also urged the government to increase funding for public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to reduce their dependence on revenue generated from students.
The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Ifeoluwa Ehindero, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing a constituency in Ondo State, during plenary on Tuesday.
According to reports, some public tertiary institutions across the country have increased tuition fees and other mandatory charges by more than 100 per cent, raising concerns about the ability of students from low-income households to continue their education.
Why Reps Want School Fee Increases Suspended
Moving the motion, Ehindero expressed concern that sudden and substantial increases in school fees could frustrate the Federal Government’s efforts to make higher education more accessible through NELFUND.
The student loan scheme was established to provide eligible Nigerian students with interest-free loans to cover institutional charges and, where applicable, upkeep expenses.
However, the lawmaker argued that the programme was designed around existing tuition benchmarks and institutional cost structures, warning that sharp fee increases could widen the gap between students’ financial needs and the assistance available to them.
He also raised concerns that some institutions implemented the increases without adequate consultation or sufficient consideration of the economic difficulties confronting Nigerian families.
According to the lawmaker, allowing the trend to continue unchecked could increase student dropouts, trigger unrest on campuses and weaken public confidence in the government’s commitment to affordable education.
What the House Wants the Federal Government to Do
Following the adoption of the motion, the House called on the Federal Government to consider increasing financial subventions to public tertiary institutions so they would rely less on school fees and other student charges.
The lawmakers also urged the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to engage the management of public tertiary institutions on suspending the increases and conducting a comprehensive review of their tuition structures.
The proposed review is expected to take prevailing economic realities and the need to preserve access to higher education into consideration.
Reps Order Investigation Into School Fee Hikes
The House further mandated its committees on University Education, Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education, and Federal Colleges of Education to investigate the extent and justification for the recent fee increases.
The committees are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the increases and determine whether the additional charges imposed by the institutions are justified.
The motion was adopted by the House, with Speaker Abbas Tajudeen presiding over the plenary and referring the matter to the relevant committees for further legislative consideration.
What This Means for Nigerian Students and Parents
If the Federal Government acts on the House’s recommendations, students and parents could benefit from a review of rising tuition costs and compulsory institutional charges.
Students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds may be particularly affected, as higher fees could increase the amount they need to borrow or pay out of pocket to complete their education.
The development also raises questions about whether student loan support can keep pace with increases in institutional charges.
For students already relying on NELFUND, any substantial rise in school fees could create additional financial pressure, especially where the available assistance does not fully cover their approved institutional charges and other educational expenses.
However, the House’s resolution does not, by itself, mean that all public tertiary institutions have been ordered to immediately reverse their fees. The Federal Government and relevant authorities would need to take further action to implement the proposed suspension.
The latest move places renewed attention on the balance between adequate funding for tertiary institutions and the need to ensure that higher education remains accessible to Nigerians, regardless of their financial background.
