A report by Premium Times highlights the growing financial burden on Nigerian parents, who face costs for private education that extend well beyond standard tuition fees. Interviews conducted across Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Katsina, and Benue reveal that families are increasingly paying for graduation ceremonies, mandatory textbooks, costumes, feeding levies, and other extracurricular activities. These additional bills, which can amount to tens of thousands of naira per child, place significant strain on household budgets, particularly for families with multiple children enrolled in private institutions.
In Abuja, a parent at Megaliy International School described paying nearly N100,000 for three children’s graduation ceremonies, with fees varying by the level of completion. In Lagos, another parent reported spending N154,000 on attire and accessories for her daughter’s primary school graduation, separate from the school’s N45,000 charge. While some schools label these payments as optional, Premium Times notes that non-payment often results in children being excluded from refreshments or ceremonies, creating social pressure on families to comply. In Katsina, a parent stated that a N3,000 fee determined whether a child received a refreshment package, illustrating how even smaller amounts impact local budgets.
The report also details restrictions on textbook purchases, with several schools requiring parents to buy materials directly from the institution to ensure uniformity. One parent in Abuja noted that her children were not allowed to purchase notebooks or textbooks elsewhere, while a Lagos parent questioned the quality of books supplied by her children’s school. Beyond ceremonies and books, some schools impose levies for feeding and picnics, such as a N10,000 December picnic fee at a school on Lagos Island, where pupils were initially prohibited from bringing food from home.
In response to these costs, the federal government introduced reforms in January to restrict graduation ceremonies to pupils completing Primary Six, JSS3, and SSS3. This policy was accompanied by the adoption of reusable textbooks to reduce recurring material costs. State governments have also acted; Ogun State prohibited ceremonies for non-terminal classes in June, while Anambra State issued a directive in July requiring that ceremonies remain optional and free of financial levies. Despite these measures, Premium Times finds that regulation and enforcement vary considerably, leaving many parents to navigate a complex landscape of mandatory and semi-mandatory school expenses.