Education
Controversial Hike in School Fees and Delta State Government
By Jerome-Mario Chijioke Utomi
Even though previous opinion articles, commentaries and interventions by this author favoured/supported policies and decisions of the Delta State Government, it will, however, for reasons, be considered very logical, rational and practical to say that the same state government will definitely feel hesitant as to why they should read this present piece or accept the content of solution it proffers as beneficial and helpful to the real development in the state education sector as the piece stoutly opposes the state government’s inconsiderate decision and describes as ill-timed the recent hikes in students’ fees in virtually all the state-owned institutions of higher learning.
Aside from the belief that in Nigeria, once a direction is chosen by an average Nigerian leader, instead of examining the process meticulously and setting the right course, many obstinately persist with the execution of such plans regardless of a minor or major shift in circumstance.
I have also in the past few weeks read with dismay, so many articles, commentaries and analyses that scantly suggest why the Delta State Government should not be blamed for the thoughtless hike in schools fees across Delta State-owned institutions of higher learning.
Synoptically, while some argued that this was not the time to hold our state government accountable for the hike in school fees because there are more important matters confronting the state, others argued that the only remedy for this problem is simply to encourage parents to accept the fate as across the world, education is neither easy nor cheap.
Indeed, while this scant and slanted reasoning may have been allowed to fly on the faces of Deltans, the truth must be told to the effect that the state leadership is bound to face confusion in their minds if they allow these new fee regimes to stand.
Before proceeding to critical analysis, it is important to underline some unpalatable actions that recently spread out its wings in the state education sector and have as a consequence caused concern for the students and brought dropping spirits among parents.
The management of Ogwuashi Uku Polytechnic, one of the state-owned institutions of higher learning, in a statement released on January 10, 2022, stated that all new students of Delta State origin undertaking the Ordinary National Diploma (OND) are to pay the sum of N75,500, while non-Deltans are to pay N99,180.
Also, new Delta State students in Higher National Diploma (HND) would pay N80,500, while non-Deltans are to pay N99,180. Moreover, the old OND students would pay N60,400 for Deltans, while non-Deltans would payN72,900. As for the HND, non- Deltans would pay N71, 650, while Deltans are to pay N60, 400.
Alarmingly, before the dust raised by such a thoughtless increase in fees could settle, that of the Delta State University, Abraka, another state-owned university was up. A peep into the university fees structure reveals that a new intake in the Law faculty has to cough out N242,000, among others.
As if that was not enough woes for the knowledge-hungry students and their parents, the Delta State University of Science and Technology (DSUST), Ozoro, came up with another fee regime that requires indigenes of the state to pay N185,000 as school fees while non-indigenes are expected to pay N225,000.
Looking above, it is evident in my view that the state has defined leaning too narrowly in a manner devoid of process and outcome fairness by getting preoccupied with revenue generation without consideration to the students’ comfort or wellbeing.
From the shocking phenomenon of declining standards of physical infrastructures and the near-total collapse of basic facilities that ought to be functional in a tertiary institution, to thoughtless demand for fees of varying amounts proposed by the school authorities ahead of logic-a development that is financially squeezing the life out of the innocent students and their parents.
At this point, this piece will cast a glance at the scary consequences of the present hike in school fees if allowed.
Fundamentally, there are a large number of youths in the state that are knowledge/education hungry and daily project vividly and openly their potential, nature, character, behaviour, performance skills and talent that needs to be nurtured in a conducive environment and fairest fees.
As we know, any developmental plan in the state without youth education delivered in a well-structured learning environment and fair fees will amount to a mere waste of time and effort.
The second point/concern is that with this increment, Deltans and the world at large are bound to feel and validate as true that education in the state is in shambles simply because of the government’s progressive non-recognition of the right to education as a human right despite Nigeria’s membership of a number of international conventions, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights where the right is respected.
It also exemplifies the fact that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s led administration has not adopted a different, practical, factual, base level and offbeat approach to this highly important and sensitive sector.
More than anything else, the development projects a realistic picture, a different scenario and exposes the factual situation which is the ground-level reality of the poor education sector in the state.
This piece is not alone in this belief system.
Recently, a well-respected community newspaper in the state, in one of its weekly editorial comments, described/considered as ill-timed, thoughtless and a decision reached in bad light the recent upward review of students’ school fees by the management/authority of Ogwuashi-Uku Polytechnic.
A development the newspaper added has fuelled a disquiet relationship between the students and the school management with the students threatening massive protest if the management of the school insists on implementing the new school fees/service charge regime introduced recently.
While the news organization called on the school management to halt the present move, particularly as their argument that the increment was necessitated by the need to sustain qualitative education and a conducive environment for learning in line with the global best standard can no longer hold water when faced with the embarrassing fact, it essentially urged the Delta State government to immediately call on the Rector and of course the governing board of the institution to rescind this decision/thoughtless hike in school fees.
Likewise, this piece on the final note underlines that if providing quality education is the interest of the state government, the state should make effort to increase state budgetary allocation to education and not by taxing the students or their parents of which majority of them are either without jobs or are retirees whose pensions are not promptly paid.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s led administration must also not forget that education is the right of our children and the bedrock of development. That ‘with sound educational institutions, society is as good as made -as the institutions will turn out all rounded manpower to continue with the development of the society driven by well thought out ideas, policies, programmes, and projects’.
The state governor urgently needs to find a new approach to demonstrate that he truly loves education via a reduction in the fees of these students. Taking such action will in the opinion of this piece offer him an edge over others in the leadership corridor.
This is the way to go.
Utomi Jerome-Mario is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Public Policy) of Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), a Lagos-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and can be reached via [email protected]/08032725374
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The winner of the 2026 African Spelling Bee Championship, Ms Adeolu Oreofe, has been congratulated by President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President described the outstanding achievement of the 14-year-old student as the importance of sustained investment in education, literacy, and youth development.
The student of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College in Ado Ekiti claimed the championship in the Junior Category in Harare, Zimbabwe recently.
She defeated contestants from over 20 African countries to claim the continental crown, which comes with a $5,000 educational scholarship.
She finished second at the 2023 MTN Spelling Bee and the 2024 Ekiti State Spelling Bee. She then placed fifth at the 2025 African Spelling Bee and second at the 2025 Nigeria Spelling Bee, before clinching the first prize this year in the continental championship.
Mr Tinubu applauded Oreofe’s dedication, as well as the unwavering support of parents, teachers, and mentors who contributed to this remarkable success, noting that she did not allow earlier disappointments to deter her from her determination to reach the top.
“I am convinced that this feat not only brings honour to Nigeria on the continental stage but also serves as an inspiration to millions of young Nigerians to pursue excellence in academics and personal development.
“As a government, we will continue to strengthen the education sector by creating opportunities that enable Nigerian youths to compete and excel globally. I wish Miss Oreofe continued success in her future endeavours,” the President further said in the statement by his chief spokesman.
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu has made new appointments in the country’s educational sector, covering the National Examination Council (NECO), the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE), the Federal Polytechnic in N’yak Shendam, Plateau State, and the National Library of Nigeria, all institutions under the Federal Ministry of Education.
According to a statement on Wednesday, President Tinubu appointed Professor Modupe Adeola Adelabu as Chairman of the Governing Board of NECO, and retained the current registrar, Professor Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi.
The President also appointed Dr Bongfa Binfa as Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, N’yak-Shendam, Plateau State, and renewed the tenure of Professor Chinwe Veronica Anunobi as chief executive of the National Library of Nigeria.
For the chairmanship of the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE), President Tinubu appointed Professor Babatunde Salako.
On April 10, President Tinubu reappointed the incumbent executive secretary, Professor Idris M Bugaje, for a second and final term of five years.
Professor Adelabu, who will chair NECO, is a retired Professor of educational administration who rose through the ranks to full professorship at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
She was a former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State (2013- 2014) and the Chairman of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) between 2018 and 2021.
Professor Babatunde Salako, the new chair of NBTE, is a globally respected researcher with decades of experience in higher education, institutional governance and national policy leadership.
He previously served as the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) from 2016 to 2024, a period during which the institute experienced significant revitalisation, enhanced research governance, expanded international collaborations, and improved infrastructure and research outputs.
Dr Binfa, from Plateau State, succeeds Dr Mukaila Zakari Ya’u, the pioneer Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, N’yak-Shendam, whose tenure expired on March 16, 2026.
President Tinubu approved the appointment of Dr Binfa for a single term of five years, following the conclusion of the process for appointing a new Rector through a public advertisement in national dailies in September 2025.
Dr Binfa holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Mechanical Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Before this appointment, Dr Binfa was Deputy Rector (Academic) at the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny. He was also a Lecturer in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Federal Polytechnic, Idah.
President Tinubu approved the renewal of the tenure of Professor Chinwe Veronica Anunobi as CEO of the National Library of Nigeria for a final term of five years. She was first appointed on September, 2, 2021.
Since assuming office, she has led several institutional reforms aimed at repositioning the National Library as a modern technology-driven knowledge institution, including the development and operationalisation of the National Repository of Nigeria, the Newspaper and Magazine Locator, the Index and Abstract to Nigerian Newspapers, and the National Virtual Library of Nigeria.
She has also played a strategic role in advancing the long-awaited completion of the National Library Headquarters project and in initiating plans to migrate heritage collections from the 34 state branches to the new headquarters in Abuja.
According to the statement, the President expects that the renewal of her tenure would ensure continuity in the implementation of ongoing reforms, completion of the National Library Headquarters project, and execution of the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan of the institution.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has issued a final deadline of April 30 for the federal government to conclude the ongoing renegotiations with its members or face indefinite shutdown of universities nationwide.
The warning was contained in a communiqué at the end of a Special National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of SSANU over the weekend in Abuja.
The union, in the document signed by its National President, Mr Muhammed Ibrahim, clarified that negotiations with the government were still ongoing and have not been concluded, contrary to reports suggesting otherwise.
SSANU expressed concern over what it described as misleading information circulating in the public domain, particularly claims that a 30 per cent increase in allowances had already been approved. The union insisted that no such agreement has been finalised or signed by the parties involved.
Reaffirming its stance, SSANU stressed that it would not accept any outcome that falls short of the understanding reached during the renegotiation process. It emphasised the need for fairness, due process and respect for collective bargaining principles in arriving at a final agreement.
Part of the communique read: “NEC reaffirmed that the renegotiation process with the Federal Government is still ongoing and has not been concluded.
“NEC expressed serious concern over attempts in the public domain to portray the process as concluded, particularly through the circulation of a letter suggesting approval of a 30 per cent increase on allowances, when discussions are still in progress, and no final agreement has been signed by the parties.
“It maintained that SSANU will not accept any outcome that falls below the negotiated understanding reached in the course of the renegotiation process and insists that fairness, due process and collective bargaining principles must be respected.
“Consequently, NEC in session, reaffirms its position by the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU on the final ultimatum given to the Federal Government from April 1 to 30 to conclude the renegotiation process and sign their respective agreements. Should the Federal Government fail to conclude the renegotiation process and sign the agreements within the stated period, SSANU will have no alternative but to commence an indefinite, comprehensive and total industrial action along with NASU.
“NEC calls on all members of the Union across the branches to remain calm, vigilant, united and prepared to fully comply with the decisions of the Union in defence of their welfare, dignity and collective interest.
“NEC in session passes a vote of confidence on the National Administrative Committee under the leadership of M. H. Ibrahim, and also reaffirms its full support for the union.
“NEC reiterates that SSANU remains committed to the defence of the rights and welfare of its members and will continue to pursue justice with firmness, unity and resolve.”
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