The House of Representatives has asked the National Universities Commission (NUC) to halt the implementation of a rise in university tuition prices.
This was stated in a motion by Aliyu Sani Madaki, who stated that among the universities that raised their fees were Bayero University, Kano, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the University of Uyo, the University of Maiduguri, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, and the Federal University, Dutse.
Lawmakers in the green chamber were concerned that the university fee increases were occurring in the midst of the country’s rising poverty, inflation, high unemployment, and the recent gasoline price increase.
They feared that the increase could cause disruptions for a number of students who could not afford the fees and that while many of them would be forced to defer their studies, others could drop out entirely.
The lawmakers also noted that the hike might aggravate the already volatile situation in the country as students were already making threats which could lead to an uprising against the Federal Government, with grievous consequences for the country as a whole.
The House also asked the Federal Government to reverse the recent hike of school fees in Unity secondary schools.