The Federal Government of Nigeria has increased the school fees of new students into Federal Government colleges otherwise known as Federal Unity colleges to ₦100,000.
The increment was made known via a circular released from the Office of the Director of Senior Secondary Education Department of the Federal Ministry of Education, dated 25th May, 2023, and addressed to all Principals of Federal Unity Colleges. According to the circular titled, “Approved fees/ charges for Federal Unity Colleges (1st Term) for new students“ and signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, new students are expected to part with ₦100,000 instead of the previous N45,000.
The Circular Reads in Part reads
“The latest fees/charge increment will affect virtually all aspects and activities of the school, including tuition and boarding fees, uniform, text books, deposit, exercise books, prospectus, caution fee, ID card, stationery, clubs and societies, sports, extra lesson, insurance, et al. Please be informed that the ministry has approved only the underlisted fees and charges for all Unity Colleges,”
Meanwhile, parents under the aegis of Nigerian Parents Forum had in June 2023, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to prevail on the Federal Ministry of Education to shelve the plans to increase the fees paid by students in Federal Government Colleges or Unity schools. The parents argued that the increment in fees is arbitrary, insensitive, ill-timed and inconsistent with President Tinubu’s promise of welfare programmes to help Nigerian parents cope with the economic challenges posed by fuel subsidy removal in the country.