Beyond tuition, extra school charges deepen financial strain on Nigerian parents

By way of Qosim Suleiman, Aisha Yusufu, Ogalah Dunamis, Emmanuel Agbo, Manasseh Mbachii, Fortune Eromonsele, Kemi Adelagun

At the ultimate Saturday of July, folks, lecturers and pupils of Megaliy International School accrued on the Apo Resettlement The town Corridor in Abuja for the college’s end-of-session and commencement rite.

For Mrs Kuburat, a dad or mum on the faculty, the party got here with an extra invoice of virtually N100,000. 3 of her kids had been graduating at other ranges. She mentioned the college charged N20,000 for the kid leaving nursery faculty, N25,000 for the only finishing Junior Secondary College and N50,000 for the kid completing Senior Secondary College. Even in years when none of her kids graduated, she mentioned she paid N10,000 for each and every kid in opposition to the college’s end-of-session rite.

The bills mirror a broader fear amongst folks interviewed by way of PREMIUM TIMES throughout a number of Nigerian states: tuition is an increasing number of just one a part of the price of non-public schooling.

From Abuja to c and Benue, folks described further expenses for commencement ceremonies, textbooks, costumes, feeding, more courses, images, events and different actions.

When the additional expenses are taken in combination, and after they contain two or extra kids, folks mentioned the extra fees are placing additional drive on family budgets.

In some faculties, the bills are obligatory. In others, they’re described as non-compulsory, however kids whose folks don’t pay could also be excluded from ceremonies, actions or refreshments.

The proceedings come as federal and state government an increasing number of transfer to curb faculty practices they are saying impose pointless prices on households.

In January, the government limited commencement ceremonies to pupils finishing Number one Six, JSS3 and SSS3 as a part of schooling reforms supposed to scale back monetary drive on folks.

But interviews carried out by way of PREMIUM TIMES recommend that further faculty fees stay popular, whilst legislation and enforcement range significantly throughout states.

The control of Megaliy World College didn’t reply to PREMIUM TIMES’ request for an interview. In the beginning, a member of the college’s control who recognized herself as Mrs Udeoka mentioned the important misplaced his father and was once now not to be had for an interview. When contacted once more on Tuesday, she mentioned the college control has determined to not grant the interview request.

On the other hand, some faculty directors defended the fees, announcing they’re to cater for the scholars and their folks at commencement ceremonies. They added that necessary acquire of textbooks in faculties was once to take care of uniformity.

Commencement expenses past tuition

In Lagos, Damilola Ojuolape, a caterer and mom dwelling in Ojo, mentioned her nine-year-old daughter’s number one faculty commencement turned into a big supply of economic rigidity.

The college charged N45,000 for the commencement, she mentioned, whilst pupils had been additionally anticipated to take part in dance performances and oldsters had been inspired to buy commemorative elegance portraits.

Past the college’s rate, Ms Ojuolape mentioned she spent N154,000 getting ready her daughter for the development, together with purchasing a inexperienced get dressed to check the color decided on for the instance, jewelry, a handbag, shades and a wristwatch.

Any other Lagos dad or mum, Tolulope Eludini, mentioned her kids attend Fluorescent Non-public College, the place fees for commencement ceremonies and textbooks are integrated within the invoice issued to folks initially of the educational consultation.

Mrs Eludini mentioned graduating pupils also are anticipated to pay for commencement apparel, together with fits and clothes, along with contributing in opposition to the end-of-session party.

“I feel the commencement price is ready N50,000,” she mentioned, noting that the quantity was once become independent from the price of clothes and the commencement celebration.

In Katsina, the quantities may also be significantly decrease, however folks say the fees nonetheless subject when measured in opposition to their faculty charges and different family bills.

Lawal Bishir mentioned Maryam Majiri Memorial World College charged him N3,000 for his kindergarten daughter’s speech and prize-giving day whilst he was once suffering to lift her N27,000 faculty price.

Pupils in graduating categories paid N5,000, he mentioned.

The college’s head of high quality assurance, Ugwu Chinedu, showed that the fee made up our minds who won the college’s refreshment package deal.

On the other hand, Mr Chinedu mentioned the college has since stopped commencement ceremonies for nursery, number one and junior secondary pupils and now limits them to SS3 scholars.

Murtala Gidado, whose kids attend Ayaks World College, a community-run secondary faculty in Katsina, mentioned he prior to now paid N5,000 for an SS3 scholar. The volume represented one-quarter of the kid’s N20,000 termly faculty price.

However the owner, Abubakar Yunus, mentioned the college fees a flat N6,000 in line with scholar in line with time period plus N500 for examinations.

In Kaduna State, Ifeoma Habila, whose 11-year-old kid attends Wusasa Kids’s College in Zaria, mentioned she paid N3,500 when her son finished number one faculty this yr.

“My son instructed me that out of the N3,500 that the college is difficult, N2,000 can be used for speech and prize, commencement robe N1,000 and N500 for workforce image,” Mrs Habila mentioned.

Her 2d son, an eight-year-old Number one 4 scholar at St Francis Academy in Wusasa, additionally paid N3,000 in opposition to the college’s commencement actions, she mentioned.

PREMIUM TIMES accrued that graduating pupils of ECWA Nursery and Number one College, Wusasa, had been required to pay N8,000, whilst Rodah Academy in Kamazo GRA charged N5,000.

When ‘non-compulsory’ does now not really feel non-compulsory

Some folks mentioned the trouble isn’t merely how a lot faculties rate, however what occurs after they make a decision to not pay.

Mrs Eludini mentioned the drive at her kids’s Lagos faculty does now not at all times come at once from directors.

She mentioned the drive occasionally comes from the youngsters, who don’t wish to be not noted of commencement actions.

“They don’t precisely inform you to return and pay,” she mentioned. “However the kids are already fascinated by the commencement and the celebration, in order that they start to drive you as a result of they don’t wish to be not noted.”

Mrs Kuburat described a equivalent scenario in Abuja, announcing kids whose folks didn’t make some bills might be excluded from refreshments and actions.

In Katsina, Mr Bishir mentioned non-payment of the N3,000 rate at his daughter’s faculty didn’t have an effect on the issuance of certificate, however the faculty used a headcount to decide which kids would obtain refreshments.

“For those who pay, they’ll come up with a refreshment package deal. For those who don’t pay, you’ll now not have a refreshment package deal,” he mentioned.

Mr Gidado mentioned the N5,000 commencement fee at his kid’s faculty was once described as non-compulsory, however a scholar whose folks didn’t pay may now not attend the programme.

For him, that leaves folks weighing the monetary price in opposition to the emotional have an effect on on their kids.

“He could be affected emotionally whilst his contemporaries are celebrating and he isn’t celebrating,” he mentioned.

The owner of the college Mr Gidado’s children attended, Abubakar Yunus, mentioned the commencement price was once for clothes, refreshments, souvenirs, invites, venue prices and cultural actions.

He mentioned the college ultimately cancelled the rite when contributions proved inadequate.

Textbooks upload any other layer of price

Commencement ceremonies are just one a part of the extra bills folks described. A number of folks mentioned faculties additionally required them to shop for textbooks at once from the college.

Lois Ugbede, an assistant editor at DUBAWA whose kids attend a Catholic non-public faculty in Abuja, mentioned folks aren’t allowed to shop for notebooks or textbooks somewhere else.

PREMIUM TIMES contacted the college’s important, Afoma Chukwu, a reverend sister, a number of instances to hunt her reaction to folks’ claims referring to further fees, together with alleged obligatory bills. On the other hand, the calls weren’t replied, and he or she had now not answered as of the time of submitting this record.

In Lagos, Mrs Eludini mentioned folks at Fluorescent Non-public College are in a similar fashion required to shop for their kids’s textbooks from the college.

“Sure, we’re required to shop for the youngsters’s textbooks at once from the college, they usually don’t give us any choices,” she mentioned.

Even if she had now not when put next the college’s costs with the ones charged by way of unbiased bookstores, she puzzled the standard of one of the crucial books provided.

The 2 phone numbers discovered for Fluorescent Non-public College, Lagos may now not be reached for feedback, regardless of repeated makes an attempt.

Mr Bishir mentioned folks of kindergarten pupils at Maryam Majiri Memorial World College in Katsina even have little flexibility.

“For the ones in kindergarten, it’s obligatory. You should purchase the pack e-book,” he mentioned.

He mentioned the college’s clarification was once that pupils wanted to make use of equivalent books with corresponding content material and web page numbers in order that kids would now not fall at the back of all the way through courses.

For pupils in upper categories, he mentioned, folks are inspired to buy from the college however some purchase somewhere else to economize.

No longer all of the folks interviewed reported such restrictions. Mr Gidado mentioned neither of the universities he offers with pressured him to buy textbooks at once from them.

He estimated that he spent about N30,000 on books for one among his secondary-school kids, which he sourced independently although the college inspired folks to shop for internally.

Executive strikes to scale back spending

The government has moved to scale back recurrent spending on studying fabrics.

In January, the federal government introduced the adoption of reusable textbooks, announcing the coverage would permit studying fabrics for use throughout more than one educational periods and handed between siblings.

“This way is meant to make certain that studying fabrics may also be reused throughout more than one educational periods,” the Minister of Schooling, Tunji Alausa, had mentioned.

Feeding, picnics and different expenses

For some folks, the listing extends past commencement ceremonies and books.

Emem Paul, whose kids attend Journey-On Very good Ville Nursery and Number one College on Lagos Island, mentioned further bills integrated textbooks, a N10,000 December picnic and a feeding levy. She mentioned pupils weren’t allowed to carry meals from house.

“I needed to insist that my kids must be exempted from consuming the college’s meals or I might withdraw them from the college,” she mentioned.

The college ultimately granted her request and exempted her kids from the feeding association.

Messages reviewed by way of PREMIUM TIMES display that the college frequently sends folks detailed directives masking bills, pupils’ look and disciplinary necessities.

One understand advised folks to pay faculty charges sooner than resumption and mentioned simplest pupils whose folks had finished the specified advance fee can be admitted initially of the time period. The similar understand mentioned participation within the faculty’s end-of-session celebration was once obligatory for all newcomers.

Such bills, folks mentioned, could make it tricky to decide the real price of personal education from tuition charges on my own.

The proprietress, Latifat Ibrahim, instructed PREMIUM TIMES that the college lumps up the sum for textbooks along the college charges.

Ms Ibrahim added that bills for meals and after-school courses are obligatory.

“If kids make a choice to carry meals to the college, they gained’t consume within the elegance as a result of I don’t need different kids taking a look at them,” she mentioned.

However she stressed out that the college’s extra-mural categories are non-compulsory. Handiest pupils whose folks opted for the teachings are allowed to take part.

At the December deal with, Ms Ibrahim mentioned folks had been requested to pay for the reason that match was once organised for the pupils. She, alternatively, famous that the fee was once now not obligatory and that simplest kids whose folks licensed their participation had been integrated.

Governments transfer in opposition to expensive commencement ceremonies

Issues over the monetary burden of faculty ceremonies have triggered interventions by way of the government and a few state governments.

In January, the government announced that commencement ceremonies must be limited to pupils finishing Number one Six and scholars finishing JSS3 and SSS3.

“Below the brand new pointers, simplest pupils and scholars finishing Number one 6, Junior Secondary College 3 (JSS3), and Senior Secondary College 3 (SSS3) are accredited to carry commencement ceremonies,” the federal government mentioned.

The measure was once introduced along the reusable textbook coverage and different reforms the federal government mentioned had been supposed to scale back pointless monetary drive on households.

Some states have long past additional.

In Ogun State, the federal government in June prohibited commencement ceremonies for nursery, kindergarten and different non-terminal categories in private and non-private faculties.

Commencement ceremonies could also be held for Number one Six, JSS3 and SSS3 pupils, however the executive directed that such occasions must be modest and organised at no monetary price to folks or guardians.

The federal government additionally prohibited extravagant parts, together with customised apparel and different social shows that would create further bills for households.

The Anambra State Executive exempted SSS3 scholars from the ban on commencement ceremonies, however mentioned such ceremonies should stay non-compulsory and “should be carried out with none type of levy or monetary call for on scholars and oldsters.”

The directive, issued on 24 July, applies to each private and non-private kindergarten, number one and secondary faculties, together with ceremonies described as “passing out” or “move over.”

The federal government warned that colleges that violate the directive may face sanctions, together with closure. It mentioned the measure was once offered to scale back the monetary burden such ceremonies position on folks.

Benue State offered equivalent restrictions in August 2025.

The state prohibited obligatory commencement ceremonies, specifically for kindergarten, nursery and fundamental faculty pupils, and likewise moved in opposition to customised instructional fabrics that can’t be transferred from one scholar to any other. The directive additionally prohibited obligatory prolonged courses after common faculty hours with out parental consent.

But PREMIUM TIMES discovered that textbook fees stay a part of the expenses issued by way of some non-public faculties in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

One faculty administrator in Benue, who didn’t wish to be named, expressed issues concerning the have an effect on of enforcement measures on pupils and their households, specifically the place faculties are sealed for non-compliance.

The administrator added that some faculties had been involved concerning the monetary implications of the coverage, particularly the place they’d already bought textbooks for his or her pupils.

“Whilst you seal a faculty, you additionally have an effect on the youngsters who’re studying there. So, for us, what’s the hole? Sealing a faculty, would there were a greater sanction for that than leaving the college sealed?” the administrator mentioned.

Visits to Towering Little toddlers College, NADI Colleges, Kings Quiver and Smooth Ft College in Markurdi confirmed that books had been nonetheless integrated amongst fees offered to folks as the brand new educational consultation started. Not one of the faculties answered to PREMIUM TIMES’ enquiries concerning the persevered inclusion of textbook fees.

Court cases, however folks reluctant to write down

In Katsina, a senior respectable of the state Ministry of Schooling accustomed to the legislation of non-state faculties mentioned participation in and contributions in opposition to commencement ceremonies should stay voluntary.

The respectable asked anonymity as a result of he was once now not accredited to talk publicly.

“You can not pressure it on pupils and say everyone should give a contribution,” he mentioned.

The respectable mentioned the ministry had won verbal proceedings from folks about commencement fees and obligatory textbook purchases.

However, in step with him, many oldsters who whinge verbally are reluctant to position their proceedings in writing as a result of they concern conceivable repercussions.

He mentioned state laws don’t authorise faculties to compel folks to buy textbooks completely from them.

The respectable additionally mentioned an inspection workforce were deployed to inspect compliance amongst non-public and network faculties.

PREMIUM TIMES may now not independently ascertain the inspection workout.

In Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, officers didn’t supply responses to PREMIUM TIMES’ findings.

The spokesperson for the Division of Schooling, Federal Capital Territory Management, Kabir Musa, directed our reporter to the Director of High quality Assurance, Hajarat Alayande.

Mrs Alayande declined to remark, announcing she wanted permission from the Schooling Secretary sooner than talking.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Elementary and Secondary Schooling, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, didn’t reply to telephone calls and messages in search of his feedback.

Non-public faculties protect fees

Non-public faculty directors who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES defended the extra fees, announcing they quilt the price of faculty actions and different running bills.

The Vice-Most important, Teachers, of St Martin de Porres Colleges, Ozochi Anthonia, mentioned graduating pupils paid between N3,000 and N3,500 to hide robes, certificate and fundamental refreshments.

A non-public faculty owner in Kaduna, who asked anonymity, mentioned faculties rely virtually solely on internally generated earnings.

“Some non-public faculties perform from rented structures and must pay hire. In addition they pay executive taxes that are changing into overwhelming, purchase faculty provides and pay workforce salaries,” the owner mentioned.

“The operating price of a non-public faculty in Nigeria could be very top. Those faculties obtain no executive investment; they fund themselves.”

The owner mentioned the sale of books, uniforms and writing fabrics by way of faculties may additionally make purchases extra handy for folks.

Customised books, the owner argued, may lend a hand faculties take care of requirements and offer protection to folks from buying pirated copies.

The owner known as on governments to offer larger improve to non-public faculties, together with workforce coaching and discounts in taxes and regulatory fees.

Mary Odiba, proprietress of Wusasa Kids’s College in Kaduna State, mentioned the fees had been essential to hide the price of establishing faculty actions.

She mentioned her faculty fees N2,500 in line with kid for commencement, speech and prize-giving actions and makes use of the cash for pupils’ welfare all the way through the occasions.

“If we wish to organise a speech and prize-giving day and commencement, we need to hire chairs and canopies, supply refreshments for the youngsters and purchase prizes for exceptional pupils,” she mentioned.

Mrs Odiba additionally mentioned folks had been inspired to buy books from the college for comfort and to scale back the danger of shopping for pirated copies.

Maureen Nwaeke-Egbim, proprietress of JPEC Chimel Academy in GRA, Zaria, Kaduna State, mentioned commencement events at her faculty are initiated by way of pupils and oldsters.

She mentioned the college paperwork a committee comprising lecturers and oldsters to plot such occasions.

“What the college does is to improve, whilst the fogeys fund the entire thing,” she mentioned.

On textbooks, Mrs Nwaeke-Egbim mentioned books are to be had on the market on the faculty, however folks are unfastened to shop for somewhere else, equipped they download the specified editions.

“The purpose is to steer clear of pirated copies and make sure pupils have the specified books, in order that in a category of 30 scholars, no less than 20 to twenty-five have the suitable textbooks,” she mentioned.

Non-public faculties affiliation responds

The Katsina State chairperson of the Nationwide Affiliation of Proprietors of Non-public Colleges (NAPPS), Mansir Sani, mentioned obligatory commencement charges aren’t same old follow amongst maximum member faculties.

“I gained’t inform you it’s 100 in line with cent, however the majority of our faculties don’t rate the rest known as a commencement price,” he mentioned.

Mr Sani mentioned most faculties rate same old exam charges relatively than separate and over the top commencement charges.

“There is not any compulsion in making scholars purchase textbooks,” he mentioned, explaining what he described because the affiliation’s respectable place.

He additionally argued that personal faculties have attempted to steer clear of expanding faculty charges on the similar tempo as taxes, regulatory fees and different running prices.

Kano tightens legislation of personal faculty charges

Past commencement and textbook fees, some states also are tightening oversight of personal faculty charges typically.

The Kano State Space of Meeting in August handed the Kano State Non-public and Voluntary Establishments Board (Modification) Invoice, 2026, introducing further necessities governing faculty price will increase.

Amongst different provisions, the regulation calls for session with folks via Mum or dad-Trainer Associations sooner than non-public faculties building up their charges.

Mustapha Yahaya, director of Particular Tasks on the Kano State Non-public and Voluntary Establishments Board, instructed PREMIUM TIMES that the brand new provisions had been supposed to stop faculties from expanding charges with out understand and session.

“The paintings of this board is to keep an eye on non-public and voluntary establishments,” he mentioned.

PREMIUM TIMES may now not independently check sooner than e-newsletter the respectable’s declare that the governor had assented to the modification on 4 August.

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Oldsters really feel the drive

For most of the folks interviewed for this record, the talk over what faculties want to perform in the long run meets a more effective truth: there’s simplest such a lot cash to be had to pay the expenses.

Ms Ugbede mentioned she had by no means defaulted on her kids’s faculty bills, however for the primary time this yr, monetary constraints compelled her to pay their charges later than she in most cases would.

Mrs Eludini mentioned her circle of relatives has additionally needed to delay some bills.

“We’ve needed to extend fee. Every so often that’s the best choice,” she mentioned.

She recalled an instance when folks at her kids’s faculty jointly challenged an tried building up in tuition.

“The oldsters got here in combination and challenged it,” she mentioned. “I feel they even petitioned the Lagos State Executive, and ultimately the college introduced the costs backtrack.”

However commencement charges, textbooks, feeding, clothes, events and different fees are extra fragmented and may also be tougher for folks to problem jointly.

For households with multiple kid, the prices acquire briefly.

And whilst faculty house owners argue that most of the fees pay for reliable products and services and emerging running bills, the studies of oldsters interviewed by way of PREMIUM TIMES display that the monetary burden of personal schooling an increasing number of extends past the determine written beside “faculty charges” on a kid’s invoice.