The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has raised serious concerns over massive tuition fee increases by several tertiary institutions across the country, some rising by as much as 521%.
The hikes, which mostly affect Medicine, Nursing, and Law programs, are threatening to overwhelm students and strain the fund’s ability to support beneficiaries under the federal student loan scheme.
Affected Institutions and Percentage Hikes
An internal NELFUND report titled “Framework to Mitigate the Impact of Increased Institutional Charges on the Fund’s Operations” listed several affected universities, including:
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University of Ilesha (Osun State) — Nursing: ₦825,000 → ₦1.276m (55% increase); Law: ₦1.276m → ₦1.526m (20%)
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Ekiti State University — Medicine & Surgery: ₦797,000 → ₦1.132m (42%)
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Edo State University — Medicine & Surgery: ₦3.25m → ₦4.25m (31%)
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University of Medical Sciences, Ondo — Nursing: ₦900,000 → ₦2.245m (149%); Medicine: ₦1.32m → ₦2.245m (70%)
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LAUTECH (Oyo State) — Medicine & Surgery: ₦126,000 → ₦782,000 (521%)
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David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (Ebonyi) — Medicine: ₦1.03m → ₦1.5m (46%)
Other institutions such as FUNAAB, FUOYE, and Kogi State Polytechnic also implemented sharp increases, with Kogi Polytechnic’s fees reportedly rising by over 1,000% in some departments.
NELFUND’s Response
According to the report, the Fund’s risk management team has recommended that:
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Loan disbursements to affected schools be halted temporarily.
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Institutions with hikes above 100% have their loan caps reduced or frozen.
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The Fund collaborates with the Federal Ministry of Education to set national tuition guidelines.
The committee also proposed that students be allowed to anonymously report unfair fee practices via an online channel.
Reactions from Stakeholders
Parents, students, and education activists have condemned the increases.
Alabi Ademola, a concerned parent, warned that “unchecked tuition hikes will defeat the very purpose of student loans.”
The Education Rights Campaign (ERC) called the loan program a “debt trap”, urging the government to replace it with grants.
ERC’s National Mobilisation Officer, Michael Adaramoye, criticized the hikes as “unjustifiable in a country where the minimum wage is ₦77,000.”
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged the Ministry of Education to restrict loan access to schools that raised fees excessively.
University Reactions
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University of Ilesha spokesperson Babatunde Fanawopo noted that some programs like Education and Agriculture, remain tuition-free.
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FUNAAB’s Olasunkanmi Olajide said the increases were made “in line with economic realities.”
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Ondo State’s UNIMED and David Umahi University insisted due process was followed.
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FUOYE representatives confirmed that fee hikes have been reversed in some programs.
Government Position
Officials at the Federal Ministry of Education admitted they have limited control over state-owned institutions since education falls under the concurrent legislative list, but reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring access to education for all Nigerian students.
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