UNIZIK Nursing Students protest fee hike, management defends adjustment

UNIZIK

By Vincent Ujumadu

Students of the School of Nursing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, on Tuesday staged a protest over what they described as a sharp increase in their tuition fees from ₦90,000 to ₦580,000.

The fee adjustment was reportedly communicated through an internal memo issued on January 23 by the chairman of the board of the NAUTH College of Nursing, announcing a review of students’ school fees.

Angered by the development, the students took to the streets, carrying placards and blocking the school gate to express their dissatisfaction.

The protesting students said the increase came at a time they were also raising concerns about the rising cost of accommodation around the institution.

Responding to the protest, the Chief Medical Director of NAUTH, Prof. Joseph Ugboaja, acknowledged that the fees had been increased but described them as still affordable compared with other nursing schools in the region.

According to him, the new board of the college proposed the adjustment as part of efforts to improve standards in the institution.

“We will meet with members of the board who proposed the new tuition and also with the students’ union leadership to resolve the issues,” Ugboaja said.

He explained that the board proposed the ₦580,000 fee, which was subsequently approved by the management, but added that there was room for further review through dialogue with relevant stakeholders.

“Our fees have been very low over the years, and even with the increment we still remain among the lowest in the South-East. While students who were previously paying ₦90,000 may find the increase significant, the aim is to maintain standards,” he said.

On concerns about accommodation costs, the chief medical director clarified that the institution does not own hostels, noting that most available accommodations are privately owned and arranged directly between students and hostel operators.

Also commenting on the situation, the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Chunyere Onwuka, said the leadership of the students’ union was not involved in organising the protest.

“I do not know those who organised the protest, but the adjustment in fees is moderate,” she said.

Onwuka added that the revised fees cover additional services, including feeding and transportation for clinical postings to Enugu.

She maintained that a comparison with other nursing schools in the South-East shows that NAUTH’s fees remain relatively lower, noting that some institutions charge up to ₦800,000 for tuition.