Vice-chancellors urge NUC to reverse private university fee hike

DDM News

Several stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector have urged the federal government to reconsider the recent increase in establishment fees.

According to Diaspora digital media (DDM), the National Universities Commission (NUC) recently raised the processing fee for private university applications from N5 million to N25 million.

Additionally, the cost of purchasing the application form was increased from N1 million to N5 million by the commission.

The NUC justified the fee hike as part of efforts to enhance the quality of private universities in Nigeria.

However, various stakeholders, including former university administrators, have expressed strong opposition to the decision.

They warned that the fee increase could reduce the number of private university applications across the country.

Benjamin Ozumba, former vice-chancellor of the University of Nigeria, described the policy shift as a “thunderbolt” to stakeholders.

He criticized the decision, stating that there were no prior consultations before its implementation by the NUC.

Ozumba argued that the upward review was unnecessary, as tertiary education in Nigeria is already undersubscribed.

He stated that the new policy would discourage private university applications and hinder mass literacy growth nationwide.

The former vice-chancellor advised the federal government to study Germany’s model of public university funding.

He noted that Germany has no private universities but heavily invests in its public institutions for quality education.

Ozumba also criticized Nigeria’s state universities, stating that many have overpriced tuition and lack adequate government support.

He suggested that public universities should receive better funding to improve their infrastructure and global competitiveness.

According to him, the priority should be improving public universities rather than increasing fees for establishing private institutions.

Ozumba praised some private universities for filling gaps left by public institutions in Nigeria.

Examples include Lead University, Covenant University, Redeemer’s University, and Afe Babalola University.

He argued that these institutions provide quality education and should not be discouraged by excessive establishment fees.

He described the NUC’s policy as a rough tactic that would not benefit Nigeria’s education sector.

He urged the federal government to create policies that would encourage more investments in education rather than restrict them.

Conversely, Noah Yusuf, vice-chancellor of Al-Hikmah University in Kwara State, supported the fee hike.

He argued that the new fees would set a quality and sustainability threshold for private universities in Nigeria.

Yusuf stated that establishing a university requires financial preparedness and long-term commitment from proprietors.

He noted that some private universities struggle to continue operations due to financial instability.

He suggested that the NUC’s decision was influenced by such cases of struggling institutions.

Yusuf emphasized that the new policy would prevent the establishment of universities without strong financial backing.

He stated that only serious investors with adequate resources should be allowed to set up private universities.

According to him, the NUC is trying to prevent situations where universities fail to sustain operations.

He explained that many universities have been unable to continue due to financial difficulties.

Such cases, he noted, lead to incomplete academic programs, affecting students and staff.

He maintained that the policy would promote the long-term sustainability of private universities in Nigeria.

Yusuf urged the federal government to ensure that only financially capable institutions receive approval.

Despite differing opinions, the debate continues as stakeholders assess the impact of the NUC’s fee increase.

While some argue that the policy will discourage private investment in education, others believe it will improve quality control.

Many stakeholders agree that Nigeria’s education sector needs significant reforms to enhance accessibility and sustainability.

The federal government has yet to respond to calls for a review of the policy.

Education experts continue to analyze the potential effects of the increased fees on private university development.

Meanwhile, students and parents remain concerned about the rising cost of higher education in the country.

The outcome of this debate will determine the future landscape of private universities in Nigeria.

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