UNHEARD VOICES: What the rise in student protests says about Nigeria’s education crisis

• Students protest not just fee hikes but also poor infrastructure, overcrowded hostels, and limited access to learning materials.
• Prolonged academic disruptions due to staff union strikes continue to delay students’ progress and generate national concern.

In recent years, Nigeria has witnessed a notable increase in student-led protests across various higher education institutions.

These demonstrations, often sparked by a range of issues including tuition hikes, infrastructural decay, poor welfare conditions, and delayed academic calendars, have drawn national attention to long-standing problems within the country’s education sector.

The recurring unrest highlights a deepening crisis that affects not only students but also the future of Nigeria’s development.

The surge in student protests is largely symptomatic of structural and systemic issues. One of the most prominent triggers is the cost of education.

With several institutions implementing increases in tuition and other ancillary fees, students have taken to the streets to demand more affordable access to education.

In many cases, these fee hikes occur without sufficient consultation with student bodies, further fueling dissent.

Additionally, infrastructural inadequacies in many public institutions have intensified frustrations.

Reports from various campuses frequently cite dilapidated lecture halls, overcrowded hostels, inadequate water supply, and limited access to learning materials.

These conditions have made academic life challenging, prompting students to call for immediate reforms.

STRIKES

Another persistent issue is the disruption of academic calendars, often due to strikes by staff unions such as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU).

These strikes, usually over issues like unpaid salaries, poor funding, and unfulfilled agreements with the federal government, have resulted in prolonged closures that delay students’ academic progress and create uncertainty about their future.

While student protests are a nationwide phenomenon, their frequency and nature vary across institutions and regions.

For instance, in some federal universities, protests tend to focus on national issues such as education funding and government policy, whereas in state-owned institutions, students often demonstrate against localized challenges such as increased school fees and internal governance issues.

In 2023, protests erupted at institutions such as the University of Benin, the University of Lagos, and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, among others.

Each case reflected a combination of unique local grievances and broader national concerns. Importantly, these protests are increasingly organized and often coordinated via student unions, social media platforms, and civil society groups.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

The response of authorities to student protests has ranged from engagement to enforcement.

In some instances, state governments and institutional administrators have opened dialogue channels with student representatives, leading to temporary resolutions or policy adjustments.

In others, protests have been met with heavy security presence, arrests, and temporary closures of campuses, drawing criticism from human rights organizations.

Efforts to address the underlying issues have included initiatives aimed at increasing education funding, upgrading infrastructure, and digitizing learning platforms.

However, progress has been uneven and, in many cases, too slow to meet rising demands. The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and other government programs have made notable contributions to infrastructural development, yet the impact has not been uniformly felt across institutions.

IMPLICATIONS

The rise in student protests reflects a broader sentiment of disillusionment and urgency. It underscores the need for comprehensive reforms in Nigeria’s education sector.

Analysts argue that consistent underfunding, policy inconsistencies, and weak institutional governance have contributed to a learning environment that often falls short of global standards.

Moreover, the frequency of disruptions and student unrest has implications for the quality of graduates produced and the country’s ability to harness its demographic dividend.

Employers and education stakeholders have expressed concern that the instability could diminish Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global knowledge economy.

A WAY TO GO

The increase in student protests across Nigeria is not merely an expression of dissent but a signal of deeper systemic challenges.

As students raise their voices, their demands point to the need for urgent and sustained attention to educational reform.

Ensuring access, affordability, and quality in higher education will require a coordinated effort by government, institutions, and stakeholders to address the root causes of unrest and invest in the future of the nation.