The House of Representatives has called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to immediately suspend the implementation of an increase in university tuition fees.
This followed the adoption of a motion by Aliyu Madaki (NNPP-Kano) at a plenary in Abuja on Tuesday.
In his motion, he stated that tuition in federal universities across the country was increased from 100 per cent to 200 per cent and hostel fees were increased from 50 per cent to 100 per cent
He said universities that hiked their fees include Bayero University, Kano (BUK), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the University of Uyo, the University of Maiduguri, and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, among others.
He expressed concern over the hike in fees, stating that it was happening amidst the worsening poverty level in the country, inflation, a high rate of unemployment, and the recent fuel price hike in the country.
He said the increase could cause disruptions for a number of students who could not afford the fees, adding that while many of them would be forced to defer their studies, others could drop out.
He further said that the hike could aggravate the already volatile situation in the country as students were already making threats, which could lead to an uprising against the federal government.
This, according to him, could have grievous consequences for the country.
Mr Madaki added that an increased rate of university dropouts could further worsen insecurity in Nigeria as frustrated students could find the wrong outlets to express their grievances.
Adopting the motion, the House, therefore, urged the National Universities Commission to immediately halt the implementation of the increase in fees by federal universities.
The House further mandated the committee on tertiary education and services when it was constituted to investigate the increase of fees by federal universities across the country with a view to finding lasting solutions to the challenges in the tertiary education sector.
(NAN)
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