This is indeed a difficult moment for the parents, guardians and students at University of Nigeria, Enugu state following the increment of their school fees by the school management.
After weeks of delay and politicking, the the Governing council of the institution came out to announce 100% increase in fees payable in the Ivory tower.
Expectedly, the decision to increase didn’t go down well with the students who were yet to return from the festive break.
WITHIN NIGERIA also gathered that the last time the tuition fees were increased by the institution was in December 2022.
In the 2022 increment, students were directed to pay between N83,000 and 120,650 as against the previous amounts of between N40,000 and N95,000.
However, in the new increment, some of the students who were in the University town quickly organized a protest to vent their dissatisfaction on the matter.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the protest was summarily nipped in the bud by the Students Union Government (SUG) of the institution.
However, not satisfied with the handling of the situation by both the institution and SUG leadership, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Southeast zone F on January 10, 2026, issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Governing Council of the institution to cancel the fee increment.
The students’ body, in a statement entitled “NANS Southeast Zone F Condemns Outrageous and Unilateral Fee at University of Nigeria, Issues 7-Day Ultimatum for Total Reversal”, stated that failure to comply with the directive would lead to the disruption of academic and administrative activities in the university by NANS.
The statement which was signed by its Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Obi, and Secretary General, Comrade Oga Lawrence partially reads; thus, “We demand the immediate and total reversal of the recent fee increment. Both the acceptance fee and tuition fee must be returned to their previous status quo ante.”
NANS further demanded an enhanced management-student-community engagement while mandating the UNN management to “establish transparent and inclusive dialogue mechanisms”, adding that “Decisions pertaining to student welfare and financer must no longer be made unilaterally.”
Frowning at the infrastructure decay in the institution, NANS also demanded a commitment to improved student welfare on the UNN and UNEC campuses of the university, as well as “addressing long standing issues of infrastructure, security and learning conditions”.
NANS further stressed that “We are resolved to mobilise every legitimate means at our disposal, including a total shutdown of academic and administrative activities until justice is served and our demands are met to the letter. Consequently, all students and prospective students of UNN are hereby directed to halt the payment of any fee whatsoever pending the resolution of this impasse.”
Students, parents react to the increment
In the meantime, some parents whose children are students of the institution
have continued to express their worry over the overnight increment.
Godfrey Eze is a resident of Obollo-Afor in Udenu local government area of Enugu state.
His daughter is a second-year student of Mass Communication of the institution.
He told our reporter that ” as I stand here now, I don’t know what to do with my daughter’s tuition fees.”
Ugwu, a pensioner with Enugu state government told WITHIN NIGERIA that ” I was thinking how I will get the tuition fees of about N120,000 for my daughter and now they told me that is now up to N200,000. I don’t know our leaders think for us. They want the children of the poor people like us to drop out of school. I am appealing to the Federal government to look critically into this matter before it becomes a big issue for us.”
Another parent, Mrs. Janeth Onugwu told our reporter that ” I am single parent. My husband died six years ago and it had not been easy for me and these children. I have three of my children in UNN already.”
Mrs. Onugwu, a public primary school teacher told WITHIN NIGERIA that ” honestly I don’t know how I can carry this financial load. I appeal to the Federal government to revert its decision on this tution fee increment.”
Roland Ezugwu is a third year student of Social works, UNN.
According to him, “I am the only one training myself. My parents are all late in a ghastly motor accident three years ago. I just finish my WAEC then and I had to hustle to enter university. It has not been easy for me.”
Stressing further, Mr. Ezugwu said that ” increasing tuition at this time is going to be too tough for me. It may even lead to my withdrawal. I am appealing to the government to reconsider this decision and have mercy on us, poor people.”
UNN defends this increment
However, defending the increment, the University has issued a statement explaining why the increment must stay.
In a statement on Friday, January 16, 2026, by the Acting Public Relations Officer of the institution, Inya Agha Egwu said the decision is necessary.
The release entitled “Management of UNN concedes to Students Demand on New Fees” explained that the increment would have been 100% but for the outcry of the students.
“In a spirit of compassion, dialogue, and shared sacrifice, the Management of the University of Nigeria, acting on behalf of the Governing Council, has consented to students’ request that sundry fees should be increased by 60 percent instead of 100 percent increment proposed by the Management for the 2025/2026 academic session.
“The decision follows constructive engagements with the Student Union Government (SUG) of both the Nsukka and Enugu Campuses.
“Under the approved arrangement, both new and returning students will now pay increased 60 percent of the existing sundry charges for the 2025/2026 session, representing a 40 per cent reduction from the initial proposal 100 per cent Increment by the University Management. A comprehensive schedule of the revised charges, disaggregated by faculty and level, will be released to the University community in the coming days.
“The agreement was reached on Friday at a meeting between the University Management and SUG representatives, including the SUG Presidents of Nsukka and Enugu Campuses, Speakers of the Legislative Arms, and the Senate President of the SUG.
“The resolution is the outcome of weeks of sustained negotiations that commenced in December 2025. During the discussions, student representatives explained that they adjusted their earlier position of 30 percent increment in recognition of prevailing fees in comparable universities and the urgent need to upgrade infrastructure within the University of Nigeria.
“Following the Management’s concession, both parties formally signed an agreement outlining key terms, including:
a. Provision for payment of the new fees in two instalments across the two semesters to ease the financial burden on parents and guardians; and
b. No increment in students’ accommodation fees for the 2025/2026 academic session.
“At the end of the deliberations, the SUG leadership expressed appreciation to the University Management for its understanding and responsiveness.
“They also called on students to remain calm, law-abiding, and to comply fully with the terms of the agreement.
“Furthermore, the SUG urged students to shun any actions capable of disrupting the peace of the University and cautioned external individuals against interfering in students’ affairs or inciting students to violent demonstrations in the guise of fighting for them.
“The University Management reiterates its commitment to dialogue, student welfare, and the continuous development of the institution in the collective interest of all stakeholders.”
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