NANS rejects EKSU’s 50% fee hike, demands immediate review
By Sodiq Adelakun
Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti, has faced a sharp backlash following its announcement of a 50 percent increase in school fees for fresh students in the 2024/2025 academic session.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has strongly condemned the move, describing the increment as a “substantial” hike, despite the university’s claim that it is a marginal adjustment.
In a statement issued on Monday, Bode Olofinmuagun, EKSU’s Deputy Registrar in charge of information, explained that the decision to increase fees was in response to the soaring operational costs faced by the university.
He pointed out that the rising inflation, with an increase in the price of goods and services by about 200 percent, necessitated the adjustment, which affects only fresh students.
Olofinmuagun also noted that the university’s monthly government subvention had been increased, but still fell short of covering the institution’s rising expenses.
“Operational costs in the university have increased by about 200 percent due to high inflation. Yet, the Governing Council of the university only approved a 50 percent increase in fees for freshers,” Olofinmuagun stated.
He further stressed that the increase would help maintain the university’s high academic standards and modernise its facilities, adding that EKSU’s ranking as the best state university in Nigeria and 12th overall nationwide is a testament to the institution’s commitment to excellence.
However, NANS, in the statement, has rejected the fee hike, which it claims is an undue financial burden on students and their families. The group, led by Owolewa Taiwo, Coordinator of NANS Southwest Zone D, questioned the rationale behind calling a 50 percent increase a “marginal” adjustment, calling it an insult to students’ intelligence.
“We make bold to say that the 50 percent increment in school fees isn’t a marginal adjustment, it is a substantial increase. The use of ‘marginal adjustment’ is nothing but a manipulation of our collective intelligence,” Taiwo said.
He added, “How do you explain a 50 percent increase as marginal?”
NANS also expressed concerns about the economic realities facing students and their families, urging the university to consider alternative ways of generating revenue rather than imposing higher fees.
“If the university can’t explore its diverse human resources and ingenuity to improve IGR other than increasing school fees, isn’t that an indictment on the management and council of the institution?” Taiwo queried.
The student body further criticized the university for not exploring other potential revenue sources, such as agriculture, consultancy services, and professional certifications, to supplement the government subvention.
They argued that such avenues could ease the financial burden on students and ensure that education remains a social service, not a commercialized enterprise.
Meanwhile, the student association has vowed to take action if the fee hike is not reviewed downward.
“We stand by our earlier press statement that the hike should be reviewed downward, and we demand that the consultative meeting agreement with the management be honored. Failure to do so will trigger our proposed plan to ensure this hike in fees does not stand,” Taiwo added.
