By Muhammad Musa Yankara
The Management of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has suspended the implementation of its recently approved undergraduate registration charges for the 2026/2027 academic session.
The suspension was announced in a statement issued by the Management and addressed to the entire student body and the University community.
According to the statement, the decision to put the implementation on hold was taken to allow for further consultations with students and other relevant stakeholders.
Management explained that the review of the charges followed an extensive, year-long process of consultation with relevant stakeholders, which became necessary due to the widening gap between available resources and the rising cost of providing essential services to students.
The statement noted that the University’s financial challenge was further compounded by the loss of nearly ₦2.5 billion following a court ruling in May 2026, a development which placed additional pressure on its finances and constrained its capacity to sustain and improve essential services.
It added that the revised charges were intended to provide additional resources to support the continued provision and improvement of critical services and facilities relating to academic experience, welfare, security, transportation, utilities and general campus life.
However, at the point when implementation was about to commence, the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) presented additional observations, concerns and requests arising from their further consideration of the revised charges. Management said it invited the leadership of the SRC to a meeting, carefully considered their submissions, and found them to be legitimate, responsible and deserving of further consideration.
“Consequently, in the spirit of consultation, mutual respect and responsible governance, Management has decided to suspend the implementation of the revised charges to allow for wider consultations and further inputs from the student body and other relevant stakeholders,” the statement said.
Management commended the mature, responsible and constructive manner in which the students approached the matter.
It appealed for continued patience, understanding and cooperation from students as the consultation process proceeds, and encouraged them to continue their academic activities while reposing confidence in the ability of the SRC and Management to reach a mutually acceptable resolution. Management said further communication on the outcome of consultations and next steps would be issued in due course.
It would be recalled that the upward review was recommended at the 565th Regular Meeting of the University Senate held on September 24, 2026, and was subsequently approved by the Governing Council at its 218th Special Meeting held on September 29, 2026.
According to the University’s Special Bulletin (Volume 18, No. 65) dated October 5, 2026, which published details of the approval, the revised undergraduate registration charges for the 2026/2027 session were approved to range between ₦143,000 and ₦298,000 for Nigerian students, depending on programme and level of study, as against the previous range of about ₦62,000 to ₦84,000.
The bulletin indicated that under the approved schedule, fresh students for Medicine and Surgery and Dentistry were listed at ₦242,000 as against ₦82,625 previously, Law at ₦182,000 as against ₦82,625, Civil, Computer, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science at ₦172,000 as against ₦82,625, Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science and Medical Radiography at ₦212,000, Veterinary Medicine at ₦232,000, while Accounting, Economics and Public Administration were listed at ₦152,000 as against ₦75,125.