The National Association of Kano State Students (NAKSS) has commenced negotiations with the management of Northwest University, Kano, following a significant increase in tuition fees that has sparked concern among students.

According to NAKSS President Isyaku Ali Kanwa, who spoke to reporters on Monday, the university has raised fees from approximately ₦17,000 to ₦57,000, representing more than a 200% increase.

"As leaders, Kano students and stakeholders have been urging us to look into the sudden tuition increase since Sunday night," Ali Kanwa stated. "We have received numerous complaints from students who had already made financial plans based on the previous fee structure."

The NAKSS leadership has already taken steps to address the situation, including consulting with the Kano State government. "We have spoken with the Kano State government, and they have assured us they have nothing to do with the fee increase," Ali Kanwa explained.

The student body is now focused on direct negotiations with the university administration. "We are in talks with the Northwest University management to navigate through and reduce the increase as soon as possible," the NAKSS president confirmed.

While discussions continue, Ali Kanwa has called for calm among the student population, expressing optimism about reaching a resolution. "There is nothing dialogue cannot solve," he emphasized, suggesting that a compromise might be possible through continued negotiations.

The fee increase comes at a challenging economic period for many Nigerian families, with students particularly vulnerable to sudden changes in educational costs. Northwest University, a state-owned institution in Kano, serves thousands of students who may be affected by this policy change.

This development follows similar tuition hikes at other Nigerian universities in recent years, often citing operational costs and funding challenges as justifications for increases.

BenriNews will continue to monitor the situation as negotiations between NAKSS and the university administration progress.