After much protest by students, the management of University of Lagos (UNILAG), has reduced its school fees.
The school management led by Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, met with the leadership of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to address the crisis over the hike in fees.
In July, the university increased tuition fees.
Previously students of the institution paid N19,000 but management fixed new fees at N190,250 for students studying medicine while for courses that require laboratory and studio, they are to pay N140, 250.
Programmes that do not require lab and studio were fixed at N100, 750.
In a statement on Friday morning, the institution’s spokesperson, Adejoke Alaga-Ibrahim, announced reduction of the obligatory fees for students, utility bills, convocation fees, hostel fees, among others.
It noted that utility charges for all students have been reduced to N15,000 from N20,000 and convocation fees to be paid by all final year students were reduced to N27,000 from N30,000.
“The obligatory fees for new undergraduate students were reviewed from N126,325 to N116,325, for courses without lab/studio from N176,325 to N166,325.
“Also, the obligatory fees for returning undergraduate students were reviewed from N100,750 to N80,750 for courses without lab/studio; N140,250 to N120,250 for courses with lab/studio; and from N190,250 to N170,250 for medical / pharmacy students and students in health professions.
“The same goes for hostel fees for undergraduate hostels in the Akoka and Yaba campuses as students would now pay N43,000 instead of N90,000; for hostels in Idi-Araba campus, they would pay N 65,000 instead of N120,000 while the fees for Sodeinde Hall were reduced to N135,000 from N250,000,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor also noted that plans were underway to reinstate students’ union activities.
Ogunsola reiterated that no student would drop out, adding that measures to ease the payment of fees include an instalment payment option, scholarship, revitalisation of a work-study programme, assistance to indigent students, and partnership with Lagos Bus Rapid Transport System.
