By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The Federal Government has increased the application fee for new private universities to N25m, according to a memo issued by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, on Monday.
The previous processing fee was N5m.
The NUC stated that the move was part of its efforts to reposition private universities in Nigeria to better serve the needs of the populace and ensure better coordination in the development of private university education.
It also highlighted the need to review guidelines for establishing private universities.
“This is to ensure that newly established private universities are positioned to meet the challenges of the 21st century,” the memo read.
The commission further announced the suspension of inactive applications, including those of private open universities that have not made progress in over two years.
It also suspended applications that are only at the stage of submitting letters of intent.
“The fee for the purchase of application forms for the establishment of a private university is hereby reviewed from N1,000,000 to N5,000,000.
“The processing fee for applications for the establishment of a private university is hereby reviewed from N5,000,000 to N25,000,000,” the commission said.
The NUC directed that the revised processing fee will be communicated to applicants who have already purchased application forms.
These applicants are required to make payments within 30 working days or risk forfeiting their pending applications.