Kano Assembly Passes Bill to Cap Private School Fee Hikes at 10%

The Kano State House of Assembly has passed a bill seeking to regulate tuition fees in private schools by limiting any increase to a maximum of 10 percent.

The legislation, titled the Kano State Private and Voluntary Institutions Board (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was passed on Monday after scaling its third reading during plenary.

Clerk of the House, Bashir Diso, read the bill before lawmakers considered it at the committee of the whole.

Majority Leader Lawan Hussaini said the amendment requires private primary and secondary schools to consult their Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) before implementing any increase in tuition fees. He said any agreed increase must not exceed 10 percent of the existing fees.

The executive bill has been transmitted to Governor Abba Yusuf for assent.

The proposed law also introduces new qualifications for the executive secretary of the Private and Voluntary Institutions Board. Under the amendment, only a retired or experienced educationist who attained at least Grade Level 14 in the public service will be eligible for the position.

Hussaini added that private schools would no longer be permitted to charge students more than 10 percent above the official registration fees set by examination bodies such as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Examinations Council (NECO), and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).

The bill also reduces the statutory levy payable by private schools to the board from 15 percent to five percent.

According to the majority leader, the amendments are designed to strengthen oversight of private and voluntary institutions, improve their administration, protect parents from arbitrary fee increases, and enhance education standards across Kano State.