The Concerned Students’ Movement (CSM) has condemned the University of Benin (UNIBEN) for raising acceptance fees for newly admitted students, calling the move “outrageous and exploitative.”
According to CSM, fees for science courses increased from ₦60,000 to ₦122,000, while fees for non-science courses now stand at ₦115,670. The group described the hike as arbitrary, insensitive, and a deliberate attempt to commercialise public education, marginalising students from low-income families.
CSM accused the university of making admission elitist and criticised the Students’ Union leadership for remaining silent. The group demanded an immediate Students’ Union Congress to allow students to determine a collective response.
“Education in a public institution like UNIBEN must never be a privilege reserved for the wealthy,” the statement read. “We call on students, staff unions, and the public to rally in solidarity to defend affordable education until this exploitative policy is reversed.”
The movement stressed that fear and silence only embolden exploitation, urging students to resist and uphold their right to accessible public education.
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