NANS Demands End to Fines for Late School Fee Payments

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned the imposition of penalty charges on students who fail to pay their tuition fees before institutional deadlines, describing the practice as exploitative and insensitive to the prevailing economic hardship in the country.

In a statement issued on Monday by its National Secretary-General, Oladimeji Uthman, the association said many students and their parents are already struggling with rising living costs, making it difficult to meet tuition payment deadlines.

NANS maintained that the introduction of additional fines for late payment places unnecessary financial pressure on students, stressing that many defaulters are not intentionally delaying payment but are affected by the country's economic realities.

The association also raised concerns over beneficiaries of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), noting that delays in loan processing and disbursement often prevent students from meeting their institutions' fee deadlines. It explained that because NELFUND operates independently of individual academic calendars, students should not be penalised for delays beyond their control.

According to NANS, imposing late payment charges on such students amounts to an unfair burden and could hinder access to higher education.

The student body further argued that most tertiary institutions already enforce a "No Payment, No Examination" policy, which it said is sufficient to ensure compliance with tuition payment requirements. It added that introducing additional penalty fees amounts to subjecting students to double punishment.

NANS called on the management of tertiary institutions across the country to immediately review and discontinue policies imposing fines on late payment of tuition fees. It urged school authorities to adopt more student-friendly measures that balance administrative requirements with students' welfare.

The association also encouraged students affected by such policies to report their cases through its official channels, assuring them that it would engage the concerned institutions and relevant authorities to safeguard their rights.

NANS warned that it would not hesitate to take appropriate action against institutions that continue to impose what it described as exploitative penalty charges on students.