Special Adviser to the President, (Special Duties, Communications & Strategy) Dele Alake has debunked insinuations that the Federal Government may have hiked fees payable by undergraduates in public universities.
In doing so, Alake described such reports credited to some media organisations as inaccurate and incorrect.
Recall that some media organisations, had widely reported that the Federal Government had increased tuition fees in federal universities in the country.
Alake said, “We are aware that some universities have in recent weeks announced an increase in the amount payable by students on sundry charges.
“However, the fact remains and we have confirmed that these are discretionary charges by each university for hostel accommodation, registration, laboratory and other charges. They are not tuition fees.
“Authorities of these universities even made this fact clear enough in explaining the rationale behind these new fees.
“For avoidance of doubts, federal universities in Nigeria remain tuition-free”.
He absolved his principal, President Bola Tinubu from any blame, saying he remained committed to his promise of ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of the economic situation of their parents, have access to quality tertiary education.
“In addition to the Students’ Loans Scheme, under the Student Loans Bill signed into law by President Tinubu last month, which will go into implementation ahead of the next academic session in September, the Federal Government will also strengthen other mechanisms to support indigent students.
“Parts of the government’s plans to make sure all diligent students complete their education on time, notwithstanding their parents’ financial situation, include work-study, merit-based scholarships and grants,” the presidential spokesman clarified.