The Federal Government, has maintained its stand that federal universities are not allowed to charge tuition fees in the country.
This was revealed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, David Adejo during a public hearing by the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on student loans in Abuja on Tuesday.
Adejo disclosed that the recent increase in charges by federal universities in the country was unfortunate.
He said, “What they collect is charges to cover the cost of accommodation, ICT, and power, among others. It is the Governing Councils of the Universities that have the power to approve such charges for them.
“The only university that increased charges after the signing of the student loans act is the University of Lagos.
“They came to the Ministry with a proposal to increase their charges because all Governing Councils were dissolved and we gave them approval.
“Immediately that was done, there was a resolution from the House stopping the increase in fees and the President also gave a directive stopping any increase in fees and that is where it is, even though several others have brought their proposal,” he said.
Adejo said that the charges collected by the institutions were used to pay for some of their services, including electricity bills.
He faulted claims that the signing of the Students’ loan act was responsible for some of the hike in the university charges.
Adejo said that despite the charges, the universities had not been able to meet up with some of their expenses.
