Significant shifts impacted tertiary education in 2023, including fee hikes, student loans’ debut, and tertiary institutions’ exit from the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
Government policies wrought hardship on students, lecturers, staff, and parents, notably the introduction of student loans causing obligatory fee increments across institutions.
Vice-Chancellors expressed concern over inadequate government funding, prompting fee hikes to sustain universities and meet global standards, triggering student protests nationwide.
To alleviate student burdens, universities facilitated installment payments and aided needy students in securing scholarships and employment opportunities, notably the University of Lagos.
December marked the government’s removal of tertiary institutions from IPPIS, providing relief to users facing salary discrepancies and platform glitches.
Looking ahead to 2024, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) emphasized increased education budgeting, salary concerns, and a call for inclusive dialogue in policy transitions.