One week after intensive demonstrations, some reprieves finally came the way of agitating students of University of Lagos, (UNILAG), with the institution’s authorities agreeing to slash the mandatory fees imposed on them before enrolling for the new academic seasons.
The developments coming after a lengthy meeting with the national leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), saw Utility Charges for all categories of students slashed from N20,000 to N15,000:00, obligatory fees for new undergraduate students was reviewed from N126,325:00 to N116,325:00 for courses without laboratory or studio and N176,325:00 to N166,325:00 for courses with laboratories and studios.
Others included those for returning undergraduate students, which were reduced from N100,750:00 to N80,750:00 for courses without Laboratories and studios; N140,250:00 to N120,250:00 for courses with laboratories and studios; and from N190,250:00 to N170, 250:00 for Medical or Pharmacy students and students in Health Professions.
Others included the Convocation Fee to be paid by all final year students, which was reduced to N27,000:00 from N30,000:00, hostels fees for undergraduate hostels in Akoka and Yaba campuses, reduced to N43, 000:00 from N90,000:00, those in Idi-Araba campus, reduced to N65,000:00 from N120,000:00 and those for Sodeinde Hall reduced to N135,000:00 from N250,000:00.”
The NANS delegation at the meeting was led by the National President of NANS, Usman Umar Barambu, while the university team was led by Vice Chancellor, Folasade Ogunsola according to a statement on Friday morning by the Head of UNILAG’s Communication Unit, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem.
The statement, said: “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.”
It added that the NANS President, who presented the demands of UNILAG students to include, reversal of obligatory fees, reversal of hostel fees, and the reinstatement of Students’ Union Government in UNILAG, observed that the absence of Students Union Government (SUG) in UNILAG had adversely affected communication between the students and management, adding that students would be able to channel their grievances appropriately through their SUG.
On his part, Ogunsola, who was said to have 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, stressed the institution’s commitment to the actualisation of measures put in place to ameliorate the impact of the obligatory fee review.
She was said to have harped on issues such as Installment Payment Option, Revitalisation of Work-Study Programme, Assistance to Indigent Students, Triple A Project, Pay for Mentors Project, scholarship opportunities among others, adding that: “No UNILAG student would drop out of the institution due to fees.”
She was said to have emphasised that that the aim of the university was to deliver quality education to its students regardless of class, tribe or creed, adding that she would soon commence the process of reinstating students’ union activities in the university as soon as possible, after six years of ban.