In the Republic of Niger, while the authorities announced a 20% reduction in tuition fees applicable in private schools and training institutions several months ago, some establishments are still lagging behind in implementing this government decision.

Faced with these establishments, the Nigerien authorities decided to bang their fists on the table.

An ultimatum has now been issued to those establishments which have not yet implemented this new measure.

Affected schools now have one week to comply with the new measure or their establishments will be closed.

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Indeed, while the 2025-2026 school year began this Wednesday, October 15, 2025 throughout the Nigerien national territory, the Minister in charge of Trade and Industry, Abdoulaye Seydou, held a press briefing on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.

The press briefing discussed the 20% reduction in tuition fees decreed by the government.

 

A bitter observation

To this end, the minister revealed that a national investigation carried out has revealed that despite numerous warnings, several private educational establishments still persist in not applying the reduction introduced by the Nigerien executive.

"We have set up a complaints collection mechanism which has enabled us to record 103 complaints concerning 35 educational establishments spread across several establishments, including general education establishments and private vocational training establishments, as well as certain public establishments which have a private component ," explained Minister Abdoulaye Seydou.

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The checks revealed, among other things: "the pure and simple non-application of the decree by certain establishments on the grounds of high operating costs, the circumvention of the decree by certain establishments through the creation of new headings, unjustified or disguised increases by certain establishments through the increase in costs for the year 2024-2025" .

Faced with this bitter observation, the government has decided to toughen its stance.

Those private establishments that still refuse to apply the new measure now have one week to comply.

Once this deadline has expired, the ministry will simply and purely proceed to close these recalcitrant schools.

The Minister of Trade and Industry was very clear: "the application of this measure should not be subject to any ambiguity, as there is a risk that they will see the provisions of Article 2 of the decree applied with all due rigor in the coming days, stipulating that failure to comply with the provisions of this decree will result in the closure of the educational establishment or training institution concerned."

He also guaranteed that "the State will provide all necessary means to ensure compliance with the various measures taken to relieve the population and help them have better living conditions."