Students, Parents Decry Rising Post-UTME Fees

The rise in fees for Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME), acceptance, and clearance charges at various Nigerian universities has sparked significant concerns among parents, students, and educational stakeholders.

These stakeholders have also criticized the logistical issues encountered by candidates—often traveling long distances accompanied by their parents—for the screening process.

Many have stated that these changes are placing additional financial pressure on families already facing economic difficulties.

They have urged for a reduction in Post-UTME fees, the elimination of acceptance and clearance fees, and the implementation of an online screening process for qualified candidates to alleviate the burdens and risks associated with long journeys.

Initially set at N2,000, Post-UTME fees at numerous institutions have now escalated to N5,000, N10,000, or higher, depending on the university.

It is important to remember that the previous Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, during a policy meeting regarding admissions into tertiary institutions, instructed schools not to exceed a charge of N2,000 for Post-UTME.

Despite this directive, universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and others have continued to impose fees above the specified amount.

Additionally, candidates who receive admission are required to pay a non-refundable acceptance fee, which ranges from N50,000 to N100,000, based on the institution.

According to the schools, this acceptance fee serves as a commitment from the candidates, indicating their genuine interest in accepting the admission offer.

However, stakeholders view this fee as excessive and exploitative, further exacerbating the difficulties involved in gaining admission to Nigerian tertiary institutions.

In interviews conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria, several parents expressed that these fees complicate the quest for affordable higher education for their children.

One parent, Mrs. Ammy Elijah, expressed frustration over the fees, stating they force families to make difficult financial sacrifices.

“After paying for JAMB, travel expenses, and now Post-UTME, parents still find themselves under pressure to come up with tens of thousands of Naira for acceptance and clearance fees.

“It’s disheartening for families like mine, who live on limited incomes,” she remarked.

Another parent, Akuchi Ahamba, urged the Federal Ministry of Education and regulatory agencies to take immediate action and establish standard guidelines to make Post-UTME and acceptance and clearance fees accessible for all candidates.

Illustrating the challenges faced, Mr. Fred Ugochukwu shared his experience as a parent of two during the recent University of Ilorin 2025 Post-UTME screening.

Ugochukwu, who resides in Kaduna but hails from Imo State, mentioned he had to set aside his job to accompany his two children to Ilorin for the screening.

“We traveled a day ahead of the screening date. The journey was arduous and perilous due to the poor condition of the road and reports of kidnappings along the Birnin-Gwari route.

“Another distressing aspect was finding accommodation near the campus, as no arrangements were made for the candidates.

“I had to spend a significant amount to secure hotel accommodation for our two-day stay, as well as cover our meals,” he recounted.

Ugochukwu also noted that during the accreditation and actual examination, parents accompanying the candidates were neither provided with shelter nor seating.

Thousands of parents were forced to seek refuge under trees and sat on the bare ground during the duration of the screening.

In the end, neither of my two children achieved the cut-off score established by the school.

The obstacles are just too overwhelming. All my money, the risks involved, and the sacrifices made have been in vain, he expressed sorrowfully.

NAN reports that at least 21,950 candidates from across the nation took part in the University of Ilorin’s 2025 Post-UTME screening from September 1 to September 4 on the university’s campus in Ilorin.

The university administration stated that out of the 20,220 UTME and 1,751 Direct Entry (DE) candidates who participated in the screening, only 13,000 positions would be filled according to the school’s admission capacity.

Ugochukwu urged the government and appropriate agencies to instruct all higher education institutions to implement online post-UTME screenings for candidates, in order to safeguard them and their parents from the related risks and distressing experiences.

He cited the examples of Federal University, Lafia, and Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, where candidates are not required to travel to the campuses for screening.

He argued that the repetition of entrance exams for higher education – the JAMB-conducted UTME and the institution-specific Post-UTME creates unnecessary expenses and burdens.

Another parent, Mr. Beyioku Ogundipe, shared a similar experience during the 2024 admission cycle, when the post-UTME screening for his two children at different universities coincided on the same date.

Ogundipe, who resides in Abuja with his family, recounted how he took his son to the University of Lagos while his wife took their daughter to the Federal University of Technology, Akure, on the same day for their screenings.

“The financial strain and risks to the family are exceedingly high. The government must take decisive action to eliminate the needless duplication of the admission process and streamline it,” he emphasized.

Mrs. Antonia Idachaba shared her experience at one of the country’s universities, stating that what she and her daughter endured was dreadful.

“In 2024, I accompanied my daughter from Abuja to a university in the South-East for her post-UTME, and I can honestly say the journey that day was horrifying.

It started when the vehicle we were in broke down unexpectedly in a remote area.

“We found ourselves in that desolate area until evening when the driver managed to get a mechanic to repair the vehicle.

“We arrived at our destination at around 3 a.m. the next morning. The difficulty of securing hotel accommodation added another layer of challenge.

” Just imagine enduring that stress and danger at that hour of the night, especially with an increase in exam fees.

“This situation is detrimental for any candidate and their parents amid prevailing security and economic issues,” Idachaba remarked.

She urged the government to intervene by regulating the screening process and associated payments to ensure that no child is deprived of education due to financial limitations and logistical challenges.

Students also voiced their concerns, referring to what they called “admission extortion” from educational institutions.

Eniola Abe, an applicant aiming for a place in a federal university, mentioned that the escalating fees were discouraging many talented but underprivileged candidates.

“I almost gave up on my application because I rely solely on my mother for support after losing my father.

“These fees are simply too burdensome. Education should not be exclusive to the wealthy; it must be a right for every Nigerian child,” she stated.

A retired Director of Quality Assurance in FCT Education Management, Mr. Salihu Yahaya, indicated that the increasing costs of Post-UTME registration, acceptance, and clearance fees have left many families in distress, particularly in light of the current economic downturn.

The seasoned education administrator cautioned that the rising expenses could further exclude children from low-income and middle-class families from pursuing higher education.

He urged regulatory bodies and stakeholders to examine the causes behind the continual escalation of examination and admission-related fees.

Yahaya also pointed out the difficulties students encounter when trying to access Computer-Based Test centers.

He noted that most of these centers are privately owned, forcing candidates to travel great distances to take their exams.

He recommended that the government and relevant organizations invest in the establishment of additional CBT centers in local governments, which would alleviate pressure on students and decrease the likelihood of exploitation.

“By increasing the number of centers, you minimize the chances of overcrowding.

“Stronger institutions should allocate their resources to create centers where they are lacking,” Yahaya advised.

Meanwhile, the President of the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria, Prof. Boniface Odeh, emphasized the financial and logistical obstacles that have come with the rise in Post-UTME and related fees in higher education.

Odeh acknowledged that while Post-UTME exams are a vital means for institutions to evaluate candidates beyond their UTME scores, the current economic situation has exacerbated the financial burdens faced by families.

According to him, many parents are struggling, not only with the elevated examination fees but also with additional expenses for travel, accommodation, and subsequent clearance charges.

“Although I recognize the challenges these exams present, particularly the financial strain and logistical difficulties, I believe that Post-UTME assessments are essential for ensuring that students are appropriately matched with their chosen programs.

“Nonetheless, I concur that the prevailing economic situation has intensified the struggles experienced by numerous families,” he stated.

To find a compromise, he suggested various initiatives, such as simplifying the examination procedure to reduce costs and travel demands.

He also recommended reassessing acceptance and clearance fees to ensure they are fair and transparent, as well as looking into alternative evaluation methods that could lessen the financial strain on students.

Additionally, he urged institutions to embrace a “more nuanced approach” instead of imposing Post-UTME as a compulsory requirement for all candidates.

Odeh proposed a collaborative initiative involving universities, regulatory bodies, and stakeholders to create a more equitable and inclusive admissions process.

“In the end, we must seek solutions that maintain quality assurance while also addressing the pressing need to alleviate the financial pressure on parents and students,” he remarked.

With the 2025 admission processes currently underway in institutions nationwide, stakeholders cautioned that if the logistical challenges and rising fees are not controlled, these trends could exacerbate the crisis of access to higher education.