The University of Lagos, UNILAG, has agreed to a reduction in the obligatory fees payable by students of the institution after a marathon meeting with the national leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS.
Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, the Head, Communication Unit of UNILAG, stated in a statement on Friday morning that 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.
“The meeting agreed that utility charges for all categories of students be reduced to N15,000 from N20,000.”Obligatory fees for new undergraduate students were reviewed from N126,325:00 to N116,325:00 for courses without lab or studio and from N176,325:00 to N166,325:00 for courses with lab or studio.
“The obligatory fees for returning undergraduate students were reviewed from N100,750:00 to N80,750:00 for courses without lab or studio; N140,250:00 to N120,250:00 for courses with lab or studio; and from N190,250:00 to N170,250:00 for medical and 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 N30,000.00. Hostel fees were reviewed as follows: For undergraduate hostels on the Akoka and Yaba campuses, the fees were reduced to N43,000:00 from N90,000:00. For hostels on the Idi-Araba campus, the fees were reduced to N65,000 from N120,000. The fees for Sodeinde Hall were reduced to N135,000.00 from N250,000.00,” he said.
At the commencement of the meeting, NANS President highlighted the demands of UNILAG students as: reversal of obligatory fees, reversal of hostel fees, and reinstatement of the Students’ Union Government in UNILAG.
He observed that the absence of the Students Union Government (SUG) in UNILAG had adversely affected communication between the students and management. He also stated that students would be able to channel their grievances appropriately through their SUG.
Professor Ogunsola highlighted the dire situation of the university in view of prevailing economic realities and the struggle to meet its responsibilities to students, staff, and municipal service providers, among others.
She noted the university’s commitment to the actualization of measures put in place to ameliorate the impact of the obligatory fee review.
She emphasised that “no UNILAG student would drop out of the institution due to fees,” stressing that the aim of the university was to deliver quality education to its students regardless of class, tribe, or creed.
