Ahmadu Bello University suspends tuition fee hike after backlash

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria has suspended the implementation of recently increased student fees following backlash from students and stakeholders. The university management announced the pause in a special bulletin, stating the decision was made in the spirit of “consultation, mutual respect and responsible governance” to allow for further input from the student body.

The proposed fee hike saw costs rise from approximately N62,000 and N84,000 to as much as N143,000 and N298,000, depending on the student's programme and level. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) criticized the move, with its president calling the increase a “joke taken too far.”

University management cited financial pressures as the reason for the hike, noting a significant gap between available resources and the rising cost of essential services. They specifically highlighted a financial strain caused by a court ruling requiring the university and the Central Bank of Nigeria to pay N2.5 billion in judgment proceeds to 110 former workers.