Protest: Barr. Ogunlana To Join UNILAG Students To Demand Reversal Of School Fee Hike In Schools Wednesday

Barrister Adesina Ogunlana, former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, pledges to stand by the students and offer legal support as he expresses his TOTAL support for the #FeesMustFall protests on Wednesday, September 6, 2023.

The student body said it was concerned by the increase in fees across Nigerian universities and other institutions of higher learning despite the prevailing economic downturn occasioned by the recent removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol and devaluation of the naira.

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According to Barr. Ogunlana, ‘I have had a constructive dialogue with the leadership of the University five weeks ago on this issue of the school fee hike from N19,000 to over N180,000.

“The student representative also had a meeting with UNILAG vice-chancellor, Folashade Ogunsola, which was not conclusive, whom the students seen as a mother who would easily understand and won’t be totalitarian but to their disappointment the promise of the vice-chancellor who promised to reconvene the meeting have not been achieved despite the fact that a communique was issued to know the outcome of their meeting with the vice-chancellor, they waited in vain,” he added.

Barr. Ogunlana, however, urged the Nigerian Police and other security agencies to protest the demonstrators from violence rather than intimidating the students.

Recall, the Department of State Services (DSS) spokesperson, Peter Afunanya on Monday, said it has uncovered plans by certain politicians across the country to stage violent protests mobilising student leaders, and ethic associations, among others.

Afunanya called on heads of tertiary institutions to discourage their students from engaging in any activity that could disrupt peace in the country.

He urged those who have the intention to advantage of the challenges facing the nation to cause mayhem in the country to have a rethink.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Tuesday, warned the Department of State Services not to deter students from exercising their rights to protest, saying this is a universally recognised human right.

Backing the move, the NANS PRO, Giwa Temitope, in a statement seen by Objectv Media, said the student body would be storming UNILAG for the protest on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 and urged the DSS not to infringe on the rights of students.