UNILAG Bows To Pressure, Reduces Fees After Meeting With NANS

The management of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, has agreed to a reduction in the mandatory fees that students enrolled in the institution must pay after a lengthy meeting with the national leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS.

In a statement by the Head, Communication Unit of UNILAG, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, on Friday morning, the meeting was attended by the National President of NANS, Comrade Usman Umar Barambu accompanied by other NANS officers and the university team led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola.

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“The meeting agreed that Utility Charges for all categories of students be reduced to N15,000:00 from N20,000:00. Obligatory fees for new undergraduate students was reviewed from N126,325:00 to N116,325:00 for courses without Lab/Studio and N176,325:00 to N166,325:00 for courses with Lab/Studio.

The obligatory fees for returning undergraduate students was reviewed from N100,750:00 to N80,750:00 for courses without Lab/Studio; N140,250:00 to N120,250:00 for courses with Lab/Studio; and from N190,250:00 to N170, 250:00 for Medical / Pharmacy students and students in Health Professions.

“The Convocation Fee to be paid by all final year students was reduced to N27,000:00 from N 30,000:00. Hostels fees were reviewed as follows: For undergraduate hostels in Akoka and Yaba campuses, the fees was reduced to N43, 000:00 from N90,000:00. For hostels in Idi-Araba campus, the fees was reduced to N65,000:00 from N120,000:00. The fees for Sodeinde Hall was reduced to N135,000:00 from N250,000:00.”

The NANS President introduced the gathering by outlining the demands of UNILAG students, including the cancellation of mandatory fees, the cancellation of hostel costs, and the restoration of the UNILAG Students’ Union Government.

Comrade Barambu noted that the lack of Students Union Government (SUG) in UNILAG had a negative impact on student-management dialogue. Additionally, he mentioned that students might properly direct their complaints through their SUG.

Professor Ogunsola enumerated the dire situation of the University in view of prevailing economic realities, and the struggle to meet its obligations to students, staff, and municipal service providers, among others.

She stated the university’s commitment to the actualization of measures put in place to ameliorate the impact of the obligatory fee review. 

These programmes include the Work-Study Programme Revitalization, Assistance to Indigent Students, Triple A Project, Pay for Mentors Project, and Scholarship Opportunities, among others.

Additionally, the Vice-Chancellor reaffirmed that “No UNILAG student would drop out of the institution due to fees.” She emphasised that the university’s mission was to provide its students with high-quality education, regardless of their class, tribe, or religious beliefs.

The VC would commence the process of reinstating students’ union  activities in the university as soon as possible.

Student unionism has been proscribed in the university for over a six years. 

Recall that the institution’s students have been protesting the new fee structure since last week, which they have called prohibitive.