–Warns Against Stopping Students from Writing Exams

By Michael Lim

The National leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed great discontent and strong resentment over the position of the management of the Federal University Wukari over fee payment.

In a statement issued on 16th July, 2026, signed by NANS National President, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, the body condemned the university’s policy that:

“Students who are unable to pay their school fees to defer their semester or academic session, … that failure to either pay tuition fees or formally secure approval for deferment would result in the forfeiture of both the semester and the entire academic session.”

It further decried the. management’s stated position that students who defer without approval or absent themselves without an approved deferment would be barred from registering for the next academic session.

“We strongly decry this position, as it is insensitive, anti-student, and contrary to the ideals of accessible and inclusive education.

“Humanity must always precede our personal dispositions in the management of institutions. This decision is cruelty in its purest form. At a time when the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has introduced the NELFUND initiative to make education accessible to ordinary Nigerians and every young Nigerian who aspires to pursue higher education, it is disheartening that the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Wukari is the very one frustrating students and keeping them out of school because of financial challenges that the initiative was designed to address.”

The apex leadership of Nigerian students strongly condemned the position of the management of Federal University Wukari for adopting a stance that is not student-friendly and a direct attack on Nigerian students and the education sector at large.

The statement added: “It is on record that many of these students have already applied for NELFUND, which means the management will receive the tuition fees as soon as NELFUND disburses the funds. It is therefore inhumane for the Vice-Chancellor and the entire management of the institution to deny students the opportunity to write their examinations despite the assurance that NELFUND will certainly disburse the funds in due course.

“It is also on record that even when many students go out of their way to pay their fees before NELFUND disbursements, several institutions fail to refund them promptly. It was only recently, following sustained pressure from the leadership of NANS, that many of these institutions began processing refunds.

“According to reports available to us, over 5,000 students have been affected by this decision. Considering the sheer number of students involved and the willingness of the Vice-Chancellor to deny them access to education, it is evident that his policies are anti-student. More importantly, his actions undermine the very essence of the NELFUND initiative of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, whose vision is to ensure that every deserving Nigerian, regardless of financial circumstances, has access to quality education.”

The body unequivocally stated that there is no circumstance under which the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) will fold its arms and watch over 5,000 students to be denied the opportunity to sit for their examinations on account of late registration, despite having secured funding for their tuition through NELFUND.

Nans president declared that:

“Our position, as the apex leadership of Nigerian students, is clear and unambiguous: if these students are not allowed to complete their registration and sit for their examinations, then the examinations should not proceed for anyone.

“We shall continue to resist every policy and action that is detrimental to the interests and welfare of Nigerian students. We therefore call on the Vice-Chancellor,h as a matter of utmost urgency and importance, to immediately reverse this decision.”

By Michael Lim

For the financial strain on parents, guardians and the commercialisation of school celebrations, the Niger Private Schools Board has directed the discontinuation of the conduct of graduation ceremonies in all private schools across the state with immediate effect.

The Director of Information Services, Niger State Ministry of Information and Orientation, Mr Yunusa Ibrahim, made this statement available to the press on Tuesday in Minna.

Instead, Ibrahim explained, private schools are now required to adopt speech and prize-giving ceremonies as the approved platform for celebrating learners and recognising academic excellence, exemplary conduct, leadership and other outstanding achievements.

The directive, according to him, applies to all proprietors of private schools, school administrators and management teams, parents and guardians, as well as other stakeholders in the private education sector.

He added that the policy was introduced to promote uniformity in end-of-session activities across private schools, preserve the educational significance of school celebrations, strengthen effective regulation of private educational institutions, and discourage extravagant ceremonies.

He further said the policy aims to encourage schools to prioritise academic achievement and character development.

He clarified that the directive does not prevent schools from celebrating learners or recognising their achievements.

He added that speech and prize-giving ceremonies remain appropriate platforms for awarding prizes and certificates, recognising outstanding academic performance, honouring exemplary behaviour and leadership, and showcasing the achievements of pupils and students.

“Graduation ceremonies in some private schools have become increasingly elaborate and expensive in recent years, resulting in high financial demands on parents and guardians, and unnecessary competition among schools.

“This is a shift from the educational purpose of end-of-session activities and has led to the commercialisation of school celebrations.”

The Director of Information Services added that the board, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Orientation and other relevant stakeholders, would embark on public enlightenment and sensitisation campaigns across the state to promote understanding and compliance.

By Felix Umande

The Federal Government has suspended the proposed upward review of registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination and the National Examinations Council Senior School Certificate Examination, pending broader consultations with stakeholders.

The suspension was announced on Monday in a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Education and signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.

The ministry said the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated June 18, 2026, had been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review.

“The Federal Ministry of Education announced that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated 18 June 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken,” the statement read.

According to the ministry, the proposed review was driven by rising costs of logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, and quality assurance. It noted that registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite increasing operational expenses.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive and evidence-based policymaking.

“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, has directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking,” the statement said.

The ministry had earlier approved N50,000 as the new examination fee for WAEC and NECO candidates from 2027.

This represented an increase from the current N27,500, an 82 percent hike. The approval followed a request by WAEC for an upward review ahead of the 2027 examinations.

The proposal had drawn criticism from stakeholders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the National Association of Nigerian Students, who kicked against the uniform N50,000 fee.

The ministry said consultations will now be held with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, and other education stakeholders before any decision is reached.

It added that the proposed review would not take effect until the consultation process is concluded.

“The decision reflects our commitment to ensuring that policies affecting students and their families are carefully considered and responsive to public interest,” the ministry stated.

It reiterated that students’ welfare, equitable access to quality education, and responsible policymaking remain central to the Federal Government’s education agenda, and pledged to keep the public informed throughout the process.