ABU Zaria Halts Fee Increase After Student Backlash

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has suspended its recently announced fee increases pending consultations with students and other stakeholders. The decision was communicated through a Special Bulletin from the university's Public Affairs Directorate.

The proposed fee hike would have raised undergraduate fees from approximately N62,000 to between N143,000 and N298,000, depending on the program and level. The university justified the increase by citing a financial strain due to a Court of Appeal ruling that mandated ABU to pay N2.5 billion to 110 former employees dismissed nearly thirty years ago.

The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Akinteye Afeez, criticized the hike as excessive and called for the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor if he could not manage the institution effectively. In response to the SRC's concerns, ABU acknowledged the legitimacy of their submissions and emphasized the importance of dialogue with the student body while remaining aware of its financial challenges.