Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has suspended the implementation of its revised undergraduate registration charges for the 2026/2027 academic session following strong backlash from students and the Students’ Representative Council (SRC).
The university had approved new charges ranging from ₦143,000 to ₦298,000, a steep increase from the previous ₦62,000–₦84,000 range. Medical, dental, nursing, engineering and other professional programmes recorded some of the highest jumps. Management cited rising operational costs and a ₦2.5 billion court judgment loss as reasons for the review.
On Thursday, 8 October, ABU issued a Special Bulletin announcing the suspension to allow wider consultations with students and stakeholders. The university described the SRC’s concerns as “legitimate, responsible and deserving of further consideration.”
Reactions from students and the public
The proposed increase sparked widespread criticism online and among student groups. NANS President Akinteye Afeez called it “a joke taken too far” and suggested the Vice-Chancellor should resign if the institution could not be managed without such hikes.
Students and parents expressed deep frustration over affordability:
- “Things are getting worse, this is the same ABU we recently paid N31,500 as tuition fee. The series of increments are not just surprising but outrageous. There’s no education for the common man anymore,” said Bisallah Abuhaneefah.
- “Even education is no longer for the poor, everything in the country is moving an upward trend but the masses minimum wage is stagnant. What a country,” one reader commented.
- “Between 143k and 298k just to register is heavy. A parent who earns a normal salary has to start saving for this months before the session opens,” another wrote.
- A Medicine student, Gbadebo Adesiyan, criticised the timing, arguing that such a large increase so close to elections showed poor judgment and would worsen hardship for families.
Many social media users linked the hike to broader economic pressures, with some blaming government policies and others urging students to explore options like NELFUND student loans. A few voices supported the university’s need for more revenue, arguing that quality education requires adequate funding, but the dominant reaction was one of anger and concern that public university education is becoming inaccessible to ordinary Nigerians.
NANS later welcomed the suspension as a victory for dialogue and warned other universities against imposing unilateral fee increases without proper consultation.
The university has appealed for calm and continued academic activities while consultations continue. No final decision on the revised charges has been announced.
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