Strike: Expert Advocates Tuition Fees in Federal Universities
The Federal Government has been advised to introduce the payment of tuition fees in federal universities to meet the demands of the striking lecturers and end the ongoing strike embarked on by members of the Academic Staff Union of University.
An educationist, Dr Oluwatosin Adebayo, said this on Friday while speaking in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, at the 2022 stakeholders’ forum and presentation of scholarship awards to over 1,000 indigent admission seekers from the South-West.
Adebayo, who is the African Regional President of Scholarship Aids Initiatives, a non-governmental organisation, insisted that payment of tuition fees by students of federal universities remained one of the viable solutions to the poor funding of education in the country.
The Federal Government as part of efforts at promoting free education had in 2018 barred all federal universities from charging tuition fees.
But Adebayo argued that free education, especially at the tertiary institution level, was no longer achievable in the country, hence such universities must charge tuition fees to augment the subventions coming from the government.
Speaking on the theme, ‘Incessant strike action in the tertiary institutions: The present and future effect on Nigeria education and economic system’, Adebayo lamented that strike had never made any positive impact but destroyed the education sector.
“We have never seen any positive impact that this strike method has brought out. I believe that there should be other ways in which ASUU and the government come together and resolve their differences.
“Strike is not the best solution because it is killing our educational system, the system is going down, our certificates are not being recognized anywhere any longer and we keep on deceiving ourselves.
“I’m a lecturer as well and we have suggested many things to resolve crisis instead of strike. Part of what we have suggested is that, students of federal universities should be paying school fees. Students of Federal universities don’t pay tuition fees.
“Education is expensive; the Federal Government must allow students of Federal universities to pay school fees. The parents are ready to pay, and the money generated from this school can be used to finance whatever the problem is”, Adebayo said.
Adebayo states that although education remains the right of every Nigerian, “but the Federal government lacks the capacity to provide free education”, urging the government to stop making promises it cannot fulfil.
Related Article: Strikes Won’t Stop Until Fed Govt is Responsible – ASUU
Contents
FAQs: Strike & Experts Advocating Tuition Fees in Federal Universities
Answer: Strike actions in federal universities—especially those involving the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)—often stem from unresolved demands on funding, working conditions, and government commitments. While tuition fees themselves are not always the direct cause of strikes, debates over education financing and funding shortfalls frequently intersect with discussions about whether current funding models (including tuition levels, government subvention and student support) are adequate. These disputes can contribute to industrial actions when lecturers feel conditions degrade and students feel they pay without quality delivery.
Have experts suggested changes to how federal universities are funded, including tuition fees?
Answer: Yes. Education sector commentators and analysts have urged reforms in how universities manage funds and how the government honours negotiated agreements with staff unions to enhance stability. Broader dialogue occasionally touches on whether internal revenue sources like tuition should be re‑examined to support better infrastructure and academic delivery, although there’s no unified policy demanding mandatory tuition hikes at federal universities.
Do students in federal universities in Nigeria currently pay tuition?
Answer: Traditionally, Nigerian federal universities charge no tuition fees for undergraduate degree programmes for Nigerian citizens under the public policy model; students only pay certain school charges and levies. Fees may apply for diploma/certificate programmes and fees differ for foreign students. The National Universities Commission has affirmatively stated that federal universities cannot charge tuition in foreign currencies for Nigerian students.
What are experts saying about the fairness of increasing tuition or fees in federal universities?
Answer: Advocates and education analysts caution against sudden or unjustified tuition hikes, arguing that such increases can worsen inequality, push students out of school, and deepen economic stress for families, especially amid high inflation and cost of living pressures. These views are often voiced alongside calls for improved government funding and accountability rather than shifting the burden solely onto students. (Context from debates and public reactions — see overview video discussions on the topic.)
Could multi‑stakeholder reforms (beyond tuition changes) help reduce strikes?
Answer: Many experts, lecturers, civil society voices, and lawmakers argue that resolving the chronic strike cycle requires comprehensive reforms — including honouring negotiated agreements with staff, increasing funding for learning infrastructure, addressing lecturer welfare, and ensuring transparent financial management. Improving these areas is seen as more sustainable than relying solely on tuition adjustments to fix systemic problems.
Summary Insight
Strike actions and policy debates around tuition fees in federal universities are complex and interconnected. While federal universities in Nigeria traditionally do not charge tuition to local undergraduates, funding shortfalls, government–union negotiations, rising operational costs, and student welfare concerns drive conversations among experts about the future of higher education financing and how to stabilise academic calendars.