UNICAL hikes fees by over 100%

The management of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has announced an increase in its fees for undergraduates by over 100 per cent.

NAN reports that the UNICAL management, in a statement on Monday, revealed the new rates to journalists in Calabar.

Effiong Eyo, the university’s spokesperson, said the upward review of the fees was taken at an emergency meeting of the university’s senate on Friday.

The statement said the implementation of the upward review takes effect from the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic sessions.

It is understood that fresh students, returning students, and final-year students for the non-science courses are expected to pay N111,000, N91,500 and N114,000 respectively.

In addition, they are also to pay N36,500, N21,500 and N21,500 respectively as third-party dues.

Similarly, fees for science courses have been increased to N155,000, N125,000, and N148,000 respectively for freshers, returning students, and final-year students.

Freshers, returning students, and final-year students offering science courses are also to pay N38,500, N21,500 and N21,500 respectively as third-party dues.

Sources at the institution disclose that, before the increment, tuition fees for an average student, depending on the department, were pegged at N64,050 for freshers, N52,050 for the final year, and N49,500 for returning students.

The management said the increment was necessitated by the current economic realities and the need to maintain an academic standard the university was known for.