NEWS
Post-UTME: Rising Fees, Logistic Burden Spark Public Outcry
The increase in charges for Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME), acceptance and clearance fees across Nigerian universities have raised serious concerns among parents, students, and education stakeholders.Stakeholders also criticised the logistical challenges faced by candidates—often accompanied by their parents—who are compelled to travel long distances to the universities for screening.
Many described these developments as added financial strain on families already grappling with economic hardship. They called for downward review of post UTME charges, scrap of acceptance and clearance fees and an online screening of qualified shortlisted candidates to end the burden and risks involved in embarking on long journeys.Originally pegged at N2,000, Post-UTME charges in many institutions have now risen to N5,000, N10,000 or more, depending on the institution.It would be recalled that the former Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, in one of the policy meetings on admission into tertiary institutions, directed schools not to charge above N2,000 for Post-UTME.Since this pronouncement, universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and others have continued to charge above the directed fee.Besides, candidates that are offered admission, are also compelled to pay a non-refundable acceptance fee, ranging from N50,000 to N100,000, depending on the institution.The acceptance fee, according to the schools, is a commitment fee from the candidates, signifying their genuine interest in taking up the admission offer.Stakeholders, however, see the fee as unnecessary and exploitative, compounding the challenges and burdens of securing admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.In separate interviews with newsmen, some parents said the fees are compounding the struggle for families, seeking affordable higher education for their children.A parent, Mrs Ammy Elijah, lamented that the charges are forcing parents to make tough financial sacrifices.“After paying for JAMB, transport, and now Post-UTME, parents are still stressed to bring tens of thousand of Naira, for acceptance and clearance fees.“It’s frustrating for families like mine, who live on modest incomes,” she said.Another parent, Akuchi Ahamba, called on the Federal Ministry of Education and regulatory bodies, to urgently intervene and set standard guidelines to make Post-UTME and acceptance and clearance fees affordable for all candidates.Putting the challenges into perspective, a parent, Mr Fred Ugochukwu narrated his ordeal with his two children during the recently concluded University of Ilorin 2025 Post-UTME screening.Ugochukwu from Imo State, who lived in Kaduna, said he had to abandon his work to accompany his two children to Ilorin for the screening.“We left a day before the screening commenced. The journey was tedious and risky because of the bad state of the road and reports of kidnapping along the Birnin-Gwari axis“Another harrowing experience was, securing accommodation around the campus, because no provision was made for the candidates,“I have to pay through the nose to secure the hotel accommodation, where we stayed for the two days, as well as our feeding,” he saidUgochukwu also lamented that, during the accreditation and examination proper, the parents who accompanied the candidates, were not provided with shelter or seats.“The parents who came in their thousands, have to take shelters under trees and sat on bare floor, while the screening lasted.“At the end of the exercise and the harrowing experiences, neither of my two children met the cut-off point set by the school.“The hurdles are just too much. My money, the risks and the sacrifices, all gone in vain,” he lamented.Report says that no fewer than 21,950 candidates across the country participated in the University of Ilorin 2025 Post-UTME screening between Sept. 1 and Sept 4, in the institution’s campus, Ilorin.The university authority had said that, among the 20,220 UTME and 1,751 Direct Entry (DE) candidates who sat for the screening, only 13,000 slots would be filled based on the school’s admission quota .Ugochukwu appealed to the government and relevant agencies to direct all tertiary institutions to conduct online post-UTME screening for candidates, to safe them and their parents from the associated risks and the harrowing experiences.He gave the examples of Federal University, Lafia, and Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, where candidates do not need to travel to the schools for screening.According to him, the duplication of entrance examinations to higher institutions – the JAMB-conducted UTME and the institution-specific Post-UTME impose unnecessary costs and burdens.Another parent, Mr Beyioku Ogundipe narrated a similar ordeal during the 2024 admission process, when the post-UTME screening for his two children in different institutions, fell on same dateOgundipe, who lived in Abuja with his family, recalled that, while he took his son to University of Lagos, the wife also sacrificed to take their daughter to Federal University of Technology, Akure, same day for screenings.“The financial burden and the risk to the family are just too much. The government must take the bold step to stop the unnecessary duplication of admission process and make it seamless,” he said.Mrs Antonia Idachaba, while recounting her experiences, in one of the country’s higher institution, said what she and her daughter went through was horrific.“In 2024, I took my daughter from Abuja to one of the schools in the South-East for post- UTME and I must tell you the experience of travelling that day was horrific.” It began when the vehicle that transported us, developed mechanical issues midway in the bush.“We were in that lonely area, till evening before the driver got a mechanic to fix the vehicle.“We got to our destination around 3 a.m. the following morning. The stress of getting hotel accommodation to stay was another challenging episode.” You can imagine going through those stress and risk at that hour of the night, coupled with hike in the exam fees.“This is not too good for any candidate and the parent amidst security and economic challenges,” Idachaba said.She called on the government to step in by regulating, the screening procedure and the payments, to ensure no child is denied education due to financial constraints and logistic hurdles..Students were also not left out, as they expressed displeasure over what they called “admission extortion” from institutions.Eniola Abe, an applicant seeking admission into a federal university, said the rising charges were discouraging many brilliant but less-privileged candidates.“ I almost gave up on my admission because I have only my mother to cater for my needs, as I had lost my father.“These charges are absolutely too much to bear. Education should not be for only the rich, it should be the right of every Nigerian child,” she said.Mr Salihu Yahaya, a retired Director of Quality Assurance, FCT, Education Management, said that the rising cost of Post-UTME registration, acceptance, and clearance fees had left many families struggling, especially amid the current economic downturn.The retired education administrator said the increasing costs could further shut out children from poor and middle-income families from accessing higher education.He called on regulators and stakeholders to interrogate the reasons behind the steady rise in examination and admission-related charges.Yahaya also highlighted the inconvenience students faced in accessing Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres.According to him, most existing centres are privately owned, leaving candidates to travel long distances to sit for exams.He advised government and relevant bodies to invest in establishing more CBT centres across local governments, thereby easing pressure on students and reducing opportunities for exploitation.“With more centres, you reduce the chances of overcrowding.“Stronger institutions should use their resources to set up centres where they are lacking,” Yahaya said.On his part, the President, National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), Prof. Boniface Odeh, highlighted the financial and logistical challenges that have accompanied the increase in Post-UTME and related fees in higher institutions.Odeh noted that, while Post-UTME examinations remained an important tool for institutions to assess candidates beyond their UTME results, the current economic climate has worsened the financial strain on families.According to him, many parents are struggling, not only with the higher examination fees but also with additional costs of travelling long distances, accommodation, and subsequent clearance charges.“While I understand the challenges posed by these exams, particularly the financial burden and logistical inconveniences, I believe that Post-UTME exams serve as a crucial assessment tool for institutions to ensure that students are well-suited for their chosen programmes.“However, I agree that the current economic climate has exacerbated the hardship faced by many families,” he said.To strike a balance, he proposed several measure including streamlining the examination process to minimise costs and travel requirements.Other measures he proposed are, reviewing acceptance and clearance fees to ensure they are reasonable and transparent and exploring alternative assessment methods that could reduce the financial burden on students.He also called on institutions to adopt a “more nuanced approach” rather than making Post-UTME mandatory for all candidates.Odeh suggested a collaborative effort between universities, regulatory agencies, and stakeholders, to ensure a fairer, more inclusive admission process.“Ultimately, we need solutions that balance quality assurance with the urgent need to ease the financial burden on parents and students,” he added.With the 2025 admission processes ongoing in institutions across the country, stakeholders, warned that unless the logistical burden and increased fees are regulated, the trends may deepen the crisis of access to tertiary education. (NAN)
From Francis Sadhere, Delta
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has urged civil service commissions across the country to prioritise continuous training and retraining of personnel to improve efficiency and strengthen public administration.
The Governor said regular capacity development was essential for building a competent workforce capable of responding to emerging administrative challenges and meeting the demands of modern governance.
Oborevwori made the call on Monday in Asaba while receiving members of the Federal Civil Service Commission, led by its Chairman, Prof.
Tunji Olaopa, on a courtesy visit.Represented by his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, Ph.D., the Governor maintained that the effectiveness of government institutions depended largely on the quality, welfare and professional competence of their workforce.
He noted that rapid changes in global administrative practices had made continuous learning imperative for civil servants at both state and federal levels.
According to him, Delta State has continued to invest in the welfare and professional development of its workforce, a commitment he said had positioned the state’s civil service among the best in the country.
Oborevwori also called on the leadership of the National Council on Civil Service to encourage civil service commissions across the federation to embrace sustained manpower development.
He expressed delight that Delta State was hosting the 2026 edition of the National Council on Civil Service, describing the event as an opportunity to showcase the state’s commitment to excellence in public administration.
“We are very happy to host the 2026 edition of your National Council; Delta State likes to be first in everything, and our civil service stands among the best in the country because our personnel are properly trained and their welfare is prioritised,” he said.
The Governor added that keeping public institutions abreast of changing global standards required deliberate investment in continuous training and retraining.
“Things are changing rapidly across the globe, and continuous training and retraining remain the only path to keeping our institutions abreast of modern demands.
“I urge the leadership of the National Council to encourage civil service commissions across the federation to adopt this continuous learning approach,” he said.
Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Prof. Tunji Olaopa, commended the Oborevwori administration for hosting the national gathering.
Olaopa explained that the annual event features a targeted conference aimed at addressing contemporary issues in the civil service, advancing reforms and shaping the future of public administration in Nigeria.
He also applauded Governor Oborevwori for his performance and developmental strides across Delta State.
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Kogi State Government has defended the recent review of tuition fees at Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, (PAAU) saying that the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Salisu Usman acted in line with government directive.
Government also said that the review was part of a unified policy aimed at harmonising charges across all state-owned universities.
The Vice Chancellor of Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, Prof. Salisu Ogbo Usman, and the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, made this clarification on Monday while appearing before the Kogi State House of Assembly Committee on Education over a petition alleging an increase in school fees at PAAU and Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja.
The committee, chaired by Alhaji Idris Maikudi, also had Hon. Bode Ogunmola, representing Ogori-Magongo, and Hon. Abu Jibril, representing Ajaokuta State Constituency, in attendance.
Explaining the rationale behind the review, the Commissioner for Education said adjustments to school fees were never undertaken in isolation, noting that the state government usually sets up a committee to accommodate different interests whenever such a review becomes necessary, particularly in view of the administration’s free education policy.
Jones disclosed that a letter conveying the directive for the fee review was sent to PAAU as far back as 2024 but was not fully implemented at the time.
He said the current implementation was in line with a uniform fee structure for state-owned universities, which had already been adopted by other institutions in the state.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Usman, maintained that the university merely implemented the state government’s directive, stressing that his administration did not independently increase the fees.
He said his humble background had naturally made him sympathetic to the plight of students and parents, but added that as the head of an institution, he was obligated to operate within the provisions of the law and government policies.
The Vice Chancellor further argued that despite the review, fees charged by Kogi State universities remained considerably lower than those of neighbouring states.
He cited Edo, Ekiti, Ondo and Osun States as examples, where students studying Medicine and Law pay significantly higher fees, in response to questions from members of the committee.
Prof. Usman also highlighted the state government’s investment in sustaining Medical Sciences programmes, recalling that the Medical programme at PAAU collapsed in 2012, forcing students to be transferred to Ebonyi and Kaduna States to complete their studies.
He said the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo had addressed the challenge by putting structures in place to sustain medical training in two state-owned universities.
The Vice Chancellor urged students to take advantage of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), revealing that 4,032 students of the university had been approved for the scheme, with N562 million cleared for payment.
He added that applications from another 600 students were being processed, while beneficiaries were also entitled to a monthly upkeep allowance of N20,000.
On the allegation involving Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, the Rector, Prof. Salihu Sanusi Avidime, said he was not aware of any petition concerning an increase in fees, insisting that his administration had not raised school charges.
Rather, he explained that the institution had reduced accommodation fees following complaints by parents over accommodation challenges.
The Commissioner for Education corroborated the Rector’s position, describing the inclusion of the Polytechnic in the petition as strange and frivolous.
Meanwhile, the House Committee cautioned individuals and groups against submitting petitions to the Assembly without making themselves available to defend the allegations contained therein.
The committee observed that such practice amounted to a waste of legislative time and was unfair to institutions invited to respond to claims that had not been substantiated.
However, the lawmakers requested additional documents as part of efforts to conduct a thorough examination of the petition, assuring that the matter would be handled with due diligence and in accordance with legislative procedures in the interest of the institutions and students.
In their separate appeals, the National Chairman of the National Association of Kogi State Students (NAKOSS), Comrade Isiaka Amoto, and the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Adams Abdulrazaq, urged the lawmakers to prevail on Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to reconsider the fees with a view to effecting a slight reduction to ease the financial burden on students and their parents.
By David Torough, Abuja
Dangote Group is considering expanding its industrial investments into Egypt as part of its broader pan-African growth strategy, opening new opportunities for economic cooperation between Nigeria and Egypt.
The development followed a visit by a high-level Egyptian delegation led by the Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Dr.
Mohamed Saleh, to the Dangote Industries complex in Lagos. The visit focused on identifying opportunities for industrial collaboration, investment partnerships and capacity development across key sectors.The delegation, which included officials from Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and executives from its oil and petrochemical industries, explored potential partnerships between Nigerian and Egyptian businesses, particularly in refining, petrochemicals, fertiliser production and manufacturing.
President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, described the engagement as a significant step towards strengthening African economic integration and accelerating industrial development across the continent.
He said the visit reflected the Group’s commitment to expanding African businesses beyond national borders and creating industries that generate value, employment and sustainable economic growth.
Dangote noted that the engagement also provided an opportunity to showcase the Group’s industrial capabilities while identifying areas where both countries could combine their expertise to strengthen production capacity.
Speaking during the visit, Saleh said Egypt was keen to translate existing diplomatic and business relations with Nigeria into practical investment opportunities and long-term industrial partnerships.
He explained that the visit followed previous engagements involving Dangote Group at the Alamein Economic Conference and other international investment forums hosted by Egypt.
According to the minister, Egypt was particularly interested in studying Dangote Group’s achievements in refining, petrochemicals, fertiliser production and related manufacturing operations to identify opportunities for cooperation.
Saleh emphasised that stronger private-sector partnerships would play a crucial role in deepening economic relations between both countries, attracting investment and expanding industrial production.
He added that combining the strengths and experiences of Nigerian and Egyptian businesses could unlock new opportunities for sustainable growth and shared prosperity.
The potential expansion into Egypt aligns with Dangote Group’s Vision 2030 agenda and reinforces its ambition to become a leading driver of industrialisation and economic development across Africa.
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