In the wake of the hardships faced by Nigerians following the removal of fuel subsidies, President Bola Tinubu has issued a stern warning to federal institutions against imposing arbitrary increases in sundry fees.
The President’s directive comes as a significant relief to students and their families who are already grappling with economic challenges due to the subsidy removal.
The announcement was made by Dele Alake, the Special Adviser to the President on Communication and Strategy, in a statement released on Monday. In addition to addressing the concerns surrounding fee hikes, President Tinubu has also taken measures to ensure that student’s access to education is not hindered by financial constraints.
In a bid to fulfill his promise of enabling every Nigerian student to pursue their educational dreams, regardless of their financial circumstances, President Tinubu has given the green light to the removal of all restrictions on student loans. This move aims to make loans easily accessible to any student or household in need of financial support.
“In line with his promise to ensure no Nigerian student abandons his or her educational pursuits as a result of lack of money and economic circumstances of their parents, President Tinubu has also approved the removal of all restrictions on the students’ loan to make it available to any student or household that may desire it,” the statement reads.
“Similarly, President Tinubu has directed the authorities in all Federal Institutions of higher learning to avoid the arbitrary increase in sundry fees payable and where possible defer further increase so that parents and students don’t face too many difficulties.
“While it is important to reiterate that President Tinubu has directed the release of over 200,000 Metric Tonnes of grains to families in 36 states and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the government is working to ensure that vulnerable students can also benefit from conditional cash transfers and food distribution.
“The federal government salutes the courage, wisdom, and partnership of Nigerian Students as our country navigates this challenging time.
“President Tinubu will continue to prioritize education and the needs of the students, improve the welfare of teaching and nonacademic staff, and invest in infrastructure to make our institutions of higher learning become more globally competitive.”
