The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has criticized the practice of imposing penalty fees on students who fail to pay their tuition before institutional deadlines, describing the policy as unfair and insensitive to the country’s current economic realities.
In a statement issued on Monday by the association’s National Secretary-General, Oladimeji Uthman, NANS said many students and their families are struggling financially and should not be subjected to additional charges because of delayed tuition payments.
The student body described the penalties as exploitative, arguing that they place unnecessary financial pressure on students who are already facing economic hardship.
According to NANS, many students do not intentionally delay payment of their fees but are unable to meet payment deadlines due to rising living costs and limited financial resources.
The association also highlighted challenges faced by beneficiaries of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), noting that loan approvals and disbursements often do not coincide with institutions’ fee payment schedules.
As a result, students awaiting education loans may miss tuition deadlines through no fault of their own, making the imposition of late payment penalties unjustified.
NANS stressed that education should remain accessible and should not be commercialized in ways that punish students for circumstances beyond their control.
The association further argued that most tertiary institutions already enforce a “No Payment, No Examination” policy, which it believes is sufficient to ensure compliance with tuition payment requirements.
Introducing additional fines for late payment, it said, amounts to punishing students twice for the same issue.
NANS therefore called on the management of universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other tertiary institutions across the country to immediately review and discontinue policies that impose penalty charges for delayed tuition payments.
The association urged institutions to adopt more student-friendly measures that balance administrative efficiency with students’ right to access education.
It also encouraged students affected by such policies to report their cases through NANS’ official channels, assuring them that the association would engage relevant institutions and authorities to safeguard their rights and welfare.
The association warned that it would not hesitate to take appropriate action against institutions found to be enforcing what it described as exploitative charges disguised as administrative penalties.
The call comes amid ongoing concerns over the rising cost of higher education and the financial challenges facing many Nigerian students and their families. Stakeholders have continued to advocate for policies that make tertiary education more affordable while supporting government initiatives such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, which aims to improve access to higher education through financial assistance.
